5 Activities To Practice Mindfulness
Mindfulness has been shown to help improve mood, eating behaviors, and sleep patterns in people. This fascination with mindfulness evolved from the need to help people thrive in everyday life while utilizing human strengths. In this blog post, we discuss five activities you can use to practice mindfulness.
Cooking
Cooking is an excellent way to practice mindfulness. By focusing on the scents, textures, sights, and flavors of the food you are cooking, you can tune into the present moment and create a memorable experience. People often think mindful cooking has to be expensive, but this is not true. You can practice mindful cooking by using whatever ingredients you have on you and by preparing a meal of your choice. However, it is suggested that when practicing mindful cooking that you also practice mindful selection of foods that nourish your body and mindful eating to avoid overeating.
Walking
Walking is a great way to exercise and practice mindfulness. Notably, walking in nature or on a path allows you to connect with nature and get fresh air. From walking, you can get cardiovascular exercise, which in the long run improves your heart health and helps to release endorphins, which improves mood. To go for a mindful walk, go to a place of your choice where you can connect with nature and get some peace. You do not have to run or walk very fast to get all of the benefits of walking, but try to walk for at least 10 minutes without stopping to get the benefits of exercise in addition to the benefits of practicing mindful walking.
Making Art
Taking time to be creative and express yourself allows you to center yourself while exercising creative expression. Some ways people may make art include drawing, painting, making mosaics, crafting, building things with wood or other materials, making ceramics, or making natural art. You do not need a large space to make art, and you can always start with a small art project of your choice. People may avoid making art out of fear of not being perfect, but art does not need to be perfect, rather it needs to be an expression of yourself.
Conversation
Mindful conversations help us connect with family, friends, colleagues, peers, mentors, etc. Mindful conversations involve paying attention to one another, active listening, thoughtful questions and responses, and set the intention of fostering understanding and closeness. You can practice mindful conversations with anyone. To practice mindful conversations, connect with someone you would like to converse with in a comfortable environment where both of you can avoid noise and distractions. Make sure to avoid looking at mobile devices, as it is important to make eye contact with your conversation partner in order to connect with them at that moment.
Sleep Hygiene
Practicing proper sleep hygiene is a great way to practice mindfulness. Proper sleep hygiene involves creating a routine that allows you to decompress from the day, fall asleep easier, and improve your sleep quality. Many people use the 3-2-1 method, which involves setting a limit on the hours before bed one exercises, eats, and uses devices. By following this approach, some individuals have found falling asleep easier and noted higher quality sleep.
Conclusion
Mindfulness practices can involve everyday activities. Some of our top recommendations are cooking, walking, making art, conversing, and practicing good sleep hygiene. Mindfulness may help someone improve their mood, reduce stress, and help them focus during work or school. If your client reports that they are feeling stressed and having trouble concentrating during their day, you may want to work with them on implementing mindfulness practices during their day.
