There’s always so much going on, isn’t there? Everything is so busy, it feels like your to-do list is as long as your arm, and there’s not enough time to fit in work, housework, school activities, exercise, quality time with partners, children, extended family and friends, walking the dog, making time for yourself...it’s endless! And that’s just the basics, before you add on anything extra like holidays, birthdays, days out, unexpected events, etc. And on top of all that, we’re bombarded with messages about all the things we ‘should’ be doing with our lives that make us feel guilty that we don’t have time for.
All of that is before you think about the general clamour of life too: transport, shopping, dining out, advertising, TV, social media. Everything is impatient and attention seeking and seemingly intent on rushing us about a whirl of activity and noise. In short bursts, this can be fun and exciting, but to be immersed in this kind of environment all the time, alongside the huge to-do list and pressure to be ticking various ‘life’ boxes, can be overwhelming.
This is when wellbeing can start to suffer, and we might feel anxious, stressed or like we’re struggling to cope. These feelings might be mild and manageable, or they might start to consume us to the point where it’s affecting everyday life.
The good news is that that there are plenty of things we can do to try and counter these feelings and boost our general wellbeing. Many of them, regardless of the specific form they take, rely on the concept of mindfulness.
This term is often thrown around when people talk about mental wellbeing, but what exactly is it?
Being mindful is the practise of paying attention to the present moment, taking care to immerse your mind on your senses and shutting out distractions. By doing this, you can be more aware of what your body might be trying to tell you, and you can create space between you and your thoughts, allowing you to reflect on them with context.
There are many benefits that you may experience if you practice mindfulness, including reduced stress, anxiety and depression, improved memory, concentration and flexible thinking and improved emotional regulation – this is key, as it can help you cope with difficult feelings, respond to emotions in a more thoughtful way, and ultimately be more self-aware.
One of the most well-known associations with mindfulness is meditation. They are not actually the same thing, as mindfulness is the mental state of focus, whereas meditation is a tool that can be used to practice mindfulness. But they often go hand-in-hand – so, what is meditation?
Meditation is an intentional practice that usually starts with a focus on deep breathing. There are several types of meditation including mantras, breath-awareness, body-scan, visualisation or movement, all of which take slightly different approaches to achieve the same thing – a state of focus and calm that allows you to be more aware and emotionally balanced.
Some of the benefits of practising mindfulness may simply result from the act of taking a moment away from the noise and doing something that allows you to focus on something other than the demands on your time and attention. If you are able to be somewhere quiet where you can slow your breathing, you may benefit from the sense of calm and restoration that comes from this act alone – but you don’t have to be lying down in silence to be mindful.
Being mindful can take other forms. Going for a run can be a form of mindfulness – the rhythm of your feet on the ground in sync with your breathing can induce a state of meditation-like focus that can help you think clearer. Or painting can be a mindful activity (or drawing, sewing, crafting, knitting – anything quiet that requires concentration) because you are focusing on something that takes you away from worries and burdens, and you pay close attention to the sights and sounds around you. Going for a walk in nature is another way to be mindful. By immersing yourself in the sights, sounds and smells of nature, you give yourself the opportunity to step away from daily life and contemplate your connection to something bigger than yourself. There are also many small ways to engage in mindfulness, like savouring the taste of your food, appreciating a beautiful sunset, or simply doing one thing at a time. Multi-tasking isn’t all it’s cracked up to be!
However you try it, mindfulness can be a useful tool to counter the commotion of the world around you, and allow you to truly connect with yourself.
Photo by Darius Bashar on Unsplash
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