Do you know what mindfulness is? In this article you will understand what it is, and why it is so important for your health and quality of life!
Lack of attention and information overload are characteristics shared by many people around the world. However, there is a tool that can help us: mindfulness. You know what it is?
In this article, we will present the practice of mindfulness as a tool for a more conscious and healthy life. You will understand what it is and why mindfulness is so important today not only in everyday life, but also in the corporate world.
What is mindfulness?
Mindfulness, or mindfulness, aims to improve an individual’s emotional well-being through self-awareness and breathing, listening and observation techniques.
The practice invites us to respect our body and to be present in a completely conscious way. In other words, turn off the autopilot.
You may not even notice it, but due to the rush of the modern world, hyper stimuli and the internet, our autopilot is on all the time. During homework, at work, appointments, and surprisingly, even at times that should be leisure.
Now, you might be wondering: is this really that bad? Well, when a person just lives that way without paying attention to his own body and mind, yes.
We can relate this imbalance to increased stress, anxiety, mental exhaustion, sleep disorders, and other mental health related illnesses.
It is also worth mentioning that, unlike what many people think, mindfulness is not related to religious practices, nor is it the same thing as meditation.
In fact, mindfulness is a tool for managing and reducing stress, and also one of the phases of meditation. In other words, mindfulness and meditation is not the same thing.
Why is mindfulness so important?
People are increasingly finding it difficult to focus on the present. Sometimes they are mulling over past facts, sometimes planning for the future. The now and individual needs are lost along with the hyper-stimulation of everyday life, the internet and work.
Result: our mind is never calm, it is always on autopilot and oblivious to what we really need. Often, a few minutes would be enough to get your head in order.
It is as if our life has become a computer program to automatically execute all our appointments and our personal needs are running in the background, without importance or attention.
In this sense, mindfulness serves to change this hierarchy for a few minutes of your day. Create a reverse logic and leave worries, commitments and everything else that burdens our mind behind.
We can’t get rid of them, that are impossible, but we can reduce their negative effects on our mind and body.
Due to the benefits of mindfulness for anxiety, many companies try to include the practice within the daily life of employees to make them feel good about themselves.
How can mindfulness help you?
According to Daniel Goleman, psychologist and author of best sellers such as “Emotional Intelligence: The Revolutionary Theory That Redefines What It Means to Be” and “Focus”, the brain needs to be exercised to make it work better and better.
You can be sure, the benefits will be felt in the future.
One of the practitioners of mindfulness, the American investor and philanthropist Warren Buffett, points out: “You have only one mind and one body. And that has to last a lifetime. It is now very easy to let it travel for many years. But if you don’t take care of your body and mind, they will shipwreck 40 years later.”
In addition to providing an opportunity to intentionally and consciously focus on the present, the practice can also help to:
- Improve attention and memory capacity;
- Reduce stress and anxiety;
- Improve sleep quality;
- Improve interpersonal relationships;
- Prevent depression;
- Reduce the impact of negative thoughts.
After all, as body and mind are always connected, these benefits are also reflected in physical health, making the person more willing and resistant to other diseases.
How to practice mindfulness?
During mindfulness, the person needs to seek awareness of their thoughts, movements and feelings, and for that, they need to disconnect from the world for a few minutes and focus on themselves.
To practice mindfulness you need a place free from stimuli and distractions for 3 to 4 minutes. It can be seated or lying down, just be comfortable.
Start by paying attention to your breathing, the flow of air, and the movements your body makes when you breathe. Don’t try to control or change your breathing, just watch your body breathing.
It’s normal for your mind to start getting distracted by remembering an appointment, task, or anything else. When you notice this happening brings your attention back to your breath.
Now a question: do you take time out of your day to practice self-care? Because mindfulness is just that.
Learning to listen to your body and clear your thoughts is increasingly necessary in a world full of distractions, information and stimuli.
