We are always multitasking, especially women. Women can be folding the laundry while watching a television show but still making sure the kids are okay or cooking dinner while listening to a podcast. We are regularly doing more than one thing at the same time. I believe women are the masters of multitasking. But mindfulness is the exact opposite of multitasking.
Mindful.org defines it as the ability to be fully present in the moment, being aware of where we are and what we are doing, but not overwhelmed by what is happening around us.
At any time during the day, one can practice this, which can have many benefits.
The Benefits
Professor Jon Kabat-Zinn brought mindfulness into mainstream medicine. According to Helpguide.org, he was the founder and former director of the Stress Reduction Clinic at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center. He showed that practicing mindfulness brings improvement in both physical and psychological symptoms. It also provides a positive change in attitudes, behavior, and health.
Scientifically, experts view mindfulness as a critical element in reducing stress and enhancing overall happiness.
Mindfulness improves mental health.
Psychotherapists have used mindfulness meditation as a treatment for many problems like substance abuse, depression, eating disorders, anxiety disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder, to name a few.
Mindfulness improves well-being
Because mindfulness focuses on the present, using this practice can help people not be so worried about the future or think about past regrets. It makes it easier to be fully present in current activities and makes them more pleasurable or enjoyable. Also, it helps with a positive attitude that contributes to the satisfaction of life.
Mindfulness improves physical health.
It can help reduce stress, lower blood pressure, improve sleep, treat heart disease, and reduce chronic pain.
How can you practice mindfulness?
There are many ways to practice mindfulness; the primary goal of any mindfulness technique is to focus on the present, be alert, and focus on relaxation. Being present, there in the moment, not worrying about anything else but being present in the moment.
Meditation is the most common way to practice.
- Start with sitting straight back on a chair or with your legs crossed on the floor.
- Focus on your breathing.
- Once you have concentrated on your breathing, become aware of sounds and your ideas.
- Embrace your thoughts without judging good or bad, and if your mind starts to race, go back and concentrate on your breathing.
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Can mindfulness have a Christian approach?
Absolutely! FocusOnTheFamily.com mentions how Christians and faith-based counselors use mindfulness as a therapy tool, Christ-integrated, by making mindfulness rooted in scripture and focus on connecting with God during the technique.
Psalm 104:34, “May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the Lord.” (NIV)
Prayer is a practical way that Christians apply mindfulness to their daily lives because when people pray or worship, they are concentrating on God; their focus is connecting with God and drawing God’s presence near.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 “pray continually.” (NIV)
Some can be fearful because they find that mindfulness is self-centered or self-focus, but as a Christian, making it God-centered or God-focused shouldn’t be a problem. It is setting time apart to just be present in the moment, in that precious moment with God. It’s very comforting and brings so much peace.
In conclusion
Mindfulness has many benefits to our overall health. It is a technique that should be practiced because it can improve our focus. When done correctly, it can help bring us closer to God.
Set some time apart during the day, maybe in the morning before you start your day, or at night before bed to whine down and practice mindfulness for about five minutes, few times a week and see if you can notice a difference.
Let me know what difference it makes!
With Love, Heidy
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Great post! My biggest issue with getting lost in my thoughts is the negativity that tends to follow. It has gotten better over the years, but for the longest time ever I was afraid to be alone because I always got lost in dark thoughts. I guess that’s part of being mindful!
Thank you so much for sharing and reading. I listen to Dr. Caroline Leaf podcast about mental health and she mentions that, how people are usually scared to be alone with their thoughts but it is important that we do it. You could practice 5 mins of writing down whatever comes to mind, no matter what it is, and then do 5 minutes of mindfulness and just focus on your breathing, nothing else!
She’s really right! And funny that you mentioned writing… I actually did the therapy thing for about a year, got on meds which I still take and wrote in a journal for a few months before deciding to start this blog LOL now my thoughts are much happier and silly but of course it is a process. How does this breathing thing work? I kinda get bored and just do something else… same with yoga… I tend to fall asleep lol
Thats awesome to hear that therapy and writing helped you. With the breathing, I usually put a timer for 5 minutes, and breath in through my nose and release from my mouth. There are videos on YouTube that help guide you through the breathing exercises, which I’ve used also.
One of the things I have tried to do more of this year is being more mindful. Its so important to get in tune with yourself and know yourself.
Thank you for sharing these tips, they were really helpful!
Thank you so much for reading Olivia! â¤
Thanks for sharing this post!
Embracing thoughts without judging them is definitely the hardest part in my eyes. Through quite a lot of hours of meditation & cardiac coherence, I have come to a point where it is possible, & it is life-changing.
By the way, I just nominated you for the Liebster Award, if you want to have a look, follow that link:https://theenglishspeakingfrenchie.com/2020/09/13/the-liebster-award/ 🌷
ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜²ðŸ˜²ðŸ˜² I’m in shock!!! Thank you!! Thank you!!! A million times Thank you!!
For me I need to remember the “informal†parts of mindfulness and your words about it being the opposite of multitasking are so true, thanks for this post 👌
Thank you so much for reading!! â¤
Great post. Meditation has a good role in uplifting all dimensions of health.
Thank you so much for reading! â¤