The practice of mindfulness is extremely beneficial to your mental health and wellbeing. Mindfulness can help reduce your feelings of stress and anxiety, boost your cognitive performance, improve your concentration, lower your blood pressure, provide more energy, aid in better sleep, and so much more. Once you prioritize mindfulness, it's easy to incorporate simple mindful practices into your everyday life. The art of mindfulness is essentially purposely paying attention to the present moment. You focus on the 'here and now', being intune with how your body and mind interprets and feels in that current moment.

It may seem very simple, but when you think about it, on average we find ourselves living less for the moment and more for the future. We're constantly chasing time, instead of learning to slow down and appreciate the moment we are in and will never experience again. To those unfamiliar with the practice of mindfulness the first thought that comes to your mind when hearing the word is probably yoga, or meditation. Something a lot of people don't know to do, or have the time to do. But mindfulness is a much easier concept, and one you can experience in many different forms.

Mediation may not be what you are after – and that’s okay. Meditation isn’t the only answer. Each one of us has individual needs and wants, and those unique needs often require different moments to help us find peace, ease, and contentment. Thankfully, there are plenty of tools and practices we can explore to help us tap into what we’re looking for. Since mindfulness and meditation are not synonymous with one another, it is possible to explore one without the other. Mindfulness can also be practiced in a more casual way and yield the same benefits as a breathing or guided exercise. Like all wellness practices, you just need to find what works for you.

Mindful Walking

Mindfulness doesn't mean stillness, although it's often associated with it. Mindful walking is an opportunity to focus on the present moment while you take in the beauty of nature, and your environment. Feeling the earth under your feet, the wind on your face, and enjoying the sounds of nature around you. These moments help you to be more attentive to your soundings, and more in tune with your mind. With so many thoughts going on in our heads we can slip out of the moment and focus on what needs to be done in the next moment. As you walk your mind wanders, mindfulness is noticing that your mind has wandered and gently bringing it back to the present moment, and noticing the aromas, sights, and sounds of your surroundings. As you continue to walk, notice how your heart and mood also feel in that moment.

Mindful Meals

Mindful eating is focusing directly on the food on your plate and not on a phone, computer, or anything else. This practice gives you an opportunity to actually enjoy your meals and understand the foods that are in front of you. Challenge yourself to eat away from distractions so you can focus all your attention on savoring your meal. With mindful eating, focus on the shape, textures, smell, taste, and colors of your food. Notice how the foods taste as you chew and bite, which foods are easier to swallow and digest. Also notice how many bites it takes until your cravings are satisfied or until your belly starts to fill. You can also introduce new foods into your diet that you may have not tried before. Remain curious and non-judgmental of this process. Try foods rich in blue and purple hues which have tremendous health benefits. Purple tea is also a great, flavorful, aroma-filled sensory treat to be added to your meals.

Journaling is a great way to record the moments of your daily life that help you look back on your thoughts and feelings and take notice of how you've changed or improved as time has to go on. Keeping a gratitude journal is one of the simplest ways to practice mindfulness. Gratitude is mindful awareness of the things in your life that serve you well, help you, support you, and give purpose and meaning to your life. Practicing gratitude is not a formal process. It's as simple as taking a moment to look around you, or think about your day and note with an open heart and mind something you're grateful for. From waking up with no aches and pains, to get to park in a favorable spot, we can share our gratitude for the smallest things.

Consider taking at least 15 minutes a day, at least once or twice a week to write about three to five things that you are grateful for. You should be open, honest, and free about the words you write. After you've written down your thoughts, read them back to yourself and think about what made you grateful or happy about that moment. This is a great exercise to provide mental clarity and to learn more about yourself and the things that spark joy in your life. The goal is to remember the experience and enjoy the good emotions that come with it.

Being present in the current moment is how you practice mindfulness. How that shows up in your life is dependent on your needs and interests. You can do that in everyday life by tuning into your surroundings. Practicing mindfulness throughout your everyday life can help train the mind to focus on the present, and observe the person you are when you make mental health and clarity a priority. As you think about the mindful practices that are beneficial to you, enjoy a refreshing bottle of Purpose Tea for added focus and concentration.