A Mindful Moment

With the United States starting to open it self back up after being in "pandemic mode" for over a year it may be tempting to jump right back in to our pre-pandemic lives. However, before you jump into the "returning to normal" waters I encourage you to take a "Mindful Moment."
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Mindful Moment? What is mindfulness? 
Mindfulness is an aspect of many East Asian philosophies that has been around for centuries. It is also an aspect of many religious practices throughout the world. Mindfulness is more than just a trendy act, it is an active practice in which a person is becoming more aware of their own internal workings. It is an intentional refocusing from the outside world to your internal world. Mindfulness is a practice, meaning that is something that an individual is encouraged to do on a regular bases. The key words in this section are ACTIVE, INTENTIONAL, and PRACTICE. 

Why should I try mindfulness?
The benefits of mindfulness has been documented by numerous medical journals. Mindfulness has been shown to reduce stress levels, reduce thought rumination, increase memory and improve focus (Davis & Hayes, 2012). Mindfulness has also been shown to help individuals decrease their emotional reactivity, increase their cognitive flexibility and saw an improvement in their relationships satisfaction (Davis & Hays, 2012). 

How do I start my practice?
It is easy to start your mindfulness practice.  Just keep in mind that your practice should be active and intentional. It may take a while for your practice to become second nature, that is okay because it is a practice. Here are some tips for you to make the practice a bit easier:

• Designate a time that you will do your practice: Go ahead and put that time in your calendar and do not schedule something over it.
• Find a comfortable spot to do your practice: Find a quiet, comfortable, spot where you are not easily distracted. 
• Start small: You may not be ready to do a full hour of mindfulness and that is okay. Start off small and build it up. Again, this is a practice. 
• Use of technology: Some apps like Calm, Headspace, and Fitbit have free guided mindfulness exercises to help ease you into the practice. Also apps like Liberate and Shine also provide free mindfulness exercises that come from a cultural perspective. 
• Build a community:  For some individuals they work better in a group. Check to see if your job has a job wide mindfulness group. Check to see if your local hospital host a community mindfulness group, or even if your local community center, or even your favorite online hangout spot. If you are meeting in person please follow your local COVID-19 guidelines. 

Final word
As we transition to this "post pandemic" world, it is important to acknowledge the feelings and thoughts that can arise in that transition. Incorporating an active, intentional, practice of mindfulness can help reduce stress, improve cognitive flexibility and improve awareness of your emotions. Give it a try because the beauty of mindfulness is that it is free to use and accessible to many.