Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past decade, you’re likely to have encountered the phrase 'mindfulness'. But what does it really mean? Popular amongst the health conscious and those who take their mental health seriously, many swear by the powers of mindfulness. To help you get your head around it all, and to maybe entice you to make it a part of your life, we’ve put together Avon’s ultimate guide to mindfulness.
So, what is mindfulness?
According to world-renowned expert, Jon Kabt-Zinn, mindfulness is defined as "paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment and non-judgementally." Essentially, it’s about taking time away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life to mindfully focus on a thought, feeling or moment.
Why should you do it?
Not only does mindfulness help you to improve concentration, it’s also an excellent activity for those who want to lower stress and anxiety, helping you to process thoughts in a structured way. In fact, growing levels of research suggests that by actively training yourself to be more mindful, you’re actually remodelling the physical structure of your brain. Pretty smart.
How do you get started?
Mindfulness can be achieved in a number of ways, from yoga to meditation, and even colouring in (we’ve all seen the books). If you’re a beginner it might be that you start mindfulness exercises during tasks where you can let your mind relax, such as the washing-up or when you’re in the shower. From there, you can start focusing on your breathing, allowing yourself to really enjoy the moment to truly relax, eventually making it a part of your daily routine.
Ready to be mindful in your life? We hope this guide to mindfulness has you inspired to indulge in a little self-care, reaping the benefits of this worthwhile exercise. Now, breathe in and count down from 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…ommm.