What is Mindfulness and 3 Ways to Practice it Daily

What is mindfulness? Much like self-care, we’re bombarded with marketing telling us to be more mindful, but what does that even mean?

Mindfulness is the practice of purposefully focusing on the present moment, observing your surroundings and sensations, without judgment. The concept of mindfulness comes from ancient eastern Buddhist philosophy, which dates back around 2500 years.

There are many benefits to practicing mindfulness in your day-to-day life! Mindfulness has proven to increase overall wellbeing, mental and physical health. By remaining present in the moment and observing our feelings and experiences without judgment, we’re able to better process and accept even the most difficult feelings.

When I cut out alcohol in the summer of 2021, I bit the bullet, got a Headspace subscription, and began practicing 3-10 minutes of meditation daily in an effort to practice what I preach and be more mindful. It wasn’t easy, but it truly started to make a difference. I began to feel more present in my activities rather than let my thoughts get ahead of me or be distracted by what’s next on my to-do list. I had gotten so used to distracting myself by scrolling on Instagram or TikTok that it began to feel so refreshing to enjoy my life off-screen and feel engaged in what was happening in my present moment.

Want to start adding more mindfulness to your routine? Here are three ways to dip your toes in.

Eat a meal with no distractions.

This is commonly referred to as mindful eating, which is the practice of being fully present in your meal from its preparation to consumption. When was the last time that you ate a meal without scrolling on your phone, multitasking, or binging Netflix? Instead of having your dinner in front of the TV, try eating with no distractions and focusing on simply enjoying your food.

Go for a walk without your phone.

I know this sounds a bit wild in 2022 where we’re all attached to our screens. I admit, it was hard for me to leave my phone behind and forgo a good true-crime podcast during my walk, but it was worth it. Take a walk and actually notice the world around you, the sounds, smells, the sights you may never have noticed with your usual distractions.

Begin a daily guided meditation practice.

I love Headspace, but there are plenty of apps and Youtube videos for free that can lead you in a guided meditation. You don’t need to commit to long sessions of meditation. I often only have time to do about 5 minutes before my daughter wakes up, but even those few minutes have made an impact on my mental health.

Beginning your mindfulness journey doesn’t have to take a big chunk of time out of your day, even committing to just a few minutes a day can begin to make a difference.

What have you been doing to add more mindfulness to your life?