There are many misconceptions about mindfulness. To some, it evokes a zen like image where they imagine a calm, collected person with a perfectly clear mind and to others it’s about being positive all the time.
But these ideals are unrealistic and unattainable, but also potentially unhealthy in the long run – because life is just not like that.
What is mindfulness?
Mindfulness isn’t the picture perfect ideal that many people have, it’s more about how you can apply it to yourself. For example, mindfulness is a technique that anyone can learn which involves making a special effort to notice what’s happening in the present moment (in your mind, body and surroundings) – without judging anything. It has roots in Buddhism and meditation, but you don’t have to be spiritual, or have any particular beliefs, to try it.
It aims to help you:
- become more self-aware
- feel calmer and less stressed
- feel more able to choose how to respond to your thoughts and feelings
- cope with difficult or unhelpful thoughts
- be kinder towards yourself.
Many people find practising mindfulness helps them manage their day-to-day wellbeing. It’s certainly something to try and see for yourself. You can find more details about mindfulness here: is mindfulness right for me?
Don’t forget, mindfulness is a much about being mindful as it is mindless sometimes. Listen to your body and feelings. If you feel like a duvet day for no reason, have one. If you don’t feel like going to the gym because you feel run down, try some gentle exercises or Yoga at home using the Anytime Workouts app. It’s also ok to do absolutely nothing if it feels like everything is too much sometimes. Learn to recognise how you’re feeling, take time out and rest when you’re getting tired. As with all things, life is about being balanced, so be aware of different behaviours and try not to let one thing take over the others.
You’ll notice us sharing lots of mental health tips over the coming months from our partner Mind, the mental health charity. We want everyone to become more aware of mental health so if you want to try some mindfulness activities, what better time to do this than on a Monday, to start the week as you mean to go on. If you’d like to learn more about mindfulness and bring some practise into your daily life, visit the Mind website here for more information.