Over the years more and more research has revealed that noticing what we are doing when we are doing it has powerful benefits for our wellbeing. We need to take a step back and remember to take some time to be mindful and notice the world around us. By doing this, we can reconnect with ourselves and the world, creating a sense of peace and appreciation for life.
During Mental Health Awareness week, we share some tips to help you feel more present in your day to day life:
Staying busy
Western culture often encourages us to be constantly busy and to focus on achieving goals. We are often so focused on the future that we forget to appreciate the present moment. This can lead to feelings of stress and anxiety and for us to feel a disconnect from our environment and from ourselves.
Mindfulness
This process of noticing is known as mindfulness – the state of being attentive to and aware of what is taking place in the present – and helps to create positive mental states, as well as self-regulated behaviour and heightened self-knowledge. Learning mindfulness could indeed be described simply as learning to notice more and includes knowing where our attention is and, that we always have the ability to move it if we choose.
Mindfulness can be a useful tool for helping us to regulate our emotions. By staying present in the moment and focusing on our senses, we are able to become better aware of our emotional state. Once we become aware of our emotions, we can take the necessary steps to regulate them, such as practising relaxation techniques.
Learning mindfulness
Learning mindfulness can be a beneficial practice for anyone looking to become more connected to the present moment. One way to learn mindfulness is to practice focusing on our breath as it can help bring us back to the moment you are experiencing when our thoughts wander. Other calming activities, such as yoga, walking, and creative activities, can also help us to become more mindful.
Directing your attention towards sensations within your body, or to sights and sounds around you, is a natural way to broaden your focus out from inside your mind. Our senses can offer a calm place for our attention to be, as they don’t get worked up, or have opinions or ideas. Instead, they simply convey a direct experience of life as it is in this moment, right here and now.
Taking action activity
A powerful tool we have for noticing more is to simply be curious about the details of this moment, both within and around us.
5,4,3,2,1
Take a moment to challenge yourself to be present. Choose a moment (daily or as much as feels helpful) and write down things from the list below. Do not worry if you can’t do all of them, just do what you can.
