Stress and anxiety seem to be hard-wired into modern life. Instead of savoring and soaking up every precious moment, our days are spent racing through tasks, lurching from one worry to the next instead of learning how to enjoy life. We’re missing the benefits of mindfulness.
Mindfulness is a way of taking back control. Relearning how to be more positive about life. Enjoying those small moments. Taking time for self-care.
A few days ago, I escaped from my desk for a short walk. It was a windy day. Crossing onto the moors with the sweeping visage of the Cheviots opening out before me, I noticed a tiny field mouse in my path.
The mouse didn’t see me. The noise of the wind must have stopped it from hearing me approach. I stood quite still, and this tiny creature trustingly hopped towards me, taking its time. The mouse casually walked right through my legs and sniffed at my shoes before finally disappearing into the heather.
It was one of those moments where the world stopped. Where the frantic pace of life, all those worries and concerns are expelled from your mind completely. I was 100% in the here and now.
The Benefits Of Mindfulness
1. Decreased Stress
Mindfulness techniques and activities can help to reduce stress. Studies have shown that mindfulness can improve your moods and your ability to handle stressful activities.
2. Enhanced Mental Health
Mindfulness is a tool that can help with your mental well-being. It won’t cure serious conditions but it can help you manage the symptoms.
3. Better Self Control
When you’re more aware of your thoughts and actions, you have better self-control. This can help in all areas of your life and improve your relationships with other people.
4. Improves Academic Results
Mindfulness can help improve your concentration. You become better at blocking out distractions such as from your phone or social media.
5. Helps With Depression
Being mindful can help you focus on the positivity in your life. The small things that make your day go better.
6. Helps With Addiction
Being mindful can help you pause before reaching for a sugary cake or an alcoholic drink. Addiction is a loss of self-control, and mindfulness can help restore balance.
7. Improves sleep
Mindfulness can help to calm your mind and erase the worries and fears that prevent you from sleeping. Learn to enjoy restful sleep instead of tossing and turning as you re-live negative scenarios from your day.
8. Improves Energy levels
The positive impact of mindfulness will boost your energy levels. Focusing on small, enjoyable moments will spill over into your day-to-day activities: you won’t be weighed down as much by negative emotions.
9. Helps With Weight Loss
When you’re mindful of what you’re doing, you’ll be aware of what you’re eating. No more shoveling food down while watching TV. Instead, you’ll savor and enjoy what you eat, being more aware of satiety.
10. Better General Health
Mindfulness can help you take better care of yourself, which in turn can lead to better general health. You’re less likely to miss important checkups, being more positive will help you exercise regularly, and you’ll be more aware of what you eat. This can all help to improve your health and wellbeing.
Benefits Of Mindfulness Infographic
This infographic sums up some of the benefits of mindfulness:
