MINDFULNESS IN EVERYDAY LIFE [MENTAL HEALTH] ARTICLE1,2

Article 1

It can be helpful to keep our ‘ mindfulness muscles’ in shape during the good times, so that when we really need this greater awareness during tough times , they are strong. One great way to give our mindfulness muscles a workout is to pay deliberate attention to our routine , everyday activities . Even doing this once a day can be beneficial .

As mentioned earlier, being on autopilot is risky for people prone to depression, because we can miss the warning signs that may signal a downward spiral . Bringing mindfulness to an everyday activity , such as eating , brushing our teeth , or driving , is another way to pause and check in with ourselves for as we pay attention in a new way to a routine task, we can sometimes exposer thoughts and feelings that we weren’t even aware lurked beneath our consciousness . Interestingly, many people also find that practising this gentle, moment-to-moment awareness makes the task itself feel easier , more interesting, less stressful and even enjoyable .

Article 2

The key to bring mindfulness to an everyday task is to open yourself up fully to the experience without judgement and with gentle curiosity . Tune in to your sense of touch, taste , smell, sight and hearing , and the way your body moves. Be aware of your breathing as you perform the task, noticing any feelings such as stress, impatience, anger , sadness or joy. You may observe tension in a particular part of your body ; perhaps your chest feels tight or your breathing shaloow. You can use your breathing to let go of these difficult sensations, or to simply to breathe while allowing yourself to ‘be’ with whatever you are experiencing .

So when can we practise everyday mindfulness?

The answer is any time! You might choose a new task to focus on each day, or stick to the same for a week to see how your awareness develops. The list of possible times is endless but here are a few examples:

I will complete in article 3 soon.