Mindfulness – Much More Than A Buzzword
Mindfulness is a term many of us have likely heard before, but it’s often misunderstood. Mindfulness can actually be a little complicated at first to get to grips with but if you want to learn about its benefits and importance we must first examine what exactly what it is.
Mindfulness can be best described as a moment by moment awareness of what is happening on both the inside and outside of you! That sounds quite abstract doesn’t it? Whilst mindfulness might seem complex, when you understand what it means, it’s actually quite simple.
Mindfulness basically means to stop living in your head, being more aware of the present and taking in the world around you. You reconnect with your bodily sensations like smell, taste, sound, & sight and focus on taking more in. Basically, rather than living on autopilot or carrying out the same daily routine you instead pay more attention to what is happening RIGHT NOW!
Mindfulness is all about improving your mental well-being and by focusing on the present and your own thoughts & feelings, it can have a big effect on your mental health. It might not seem like it but practising mindfulness can help in a number of ways and it is regularly used to help alleviate mental health issues like depression, stress, and anxiety.
Mindfulness can be practiced in a number of ways, for example there are mindfulness mediation techniques and exercises you can undertake which help your brain adapt to a new style of thinking. However, don’t think you have to learn a new technique or skill to be mindful, it can be as simple as reminding yourself to live in the moment and not being afraid to try something new.
Conditioning your brain to stop worrying about past or future events can help. Give yourself 10 minutes every day to just sit and relax alone with your thoughts, free your mind completely and just zone out.
There is no right or wrong way to practice mindfulness and while it certainly benefits people who suffer from mental health conditions like anxiety and depression it can help anyone. Let’s take a more in-depth look at the benefits of mindfulness so we can better understand how exactly it helps.
The Benefits of Mindfulness
Mindfulness can help in a wide number of ways and research has shown that regular mindfulness exercises can help with many different issues and promote a greater sense of well-being.
Here are some of the main benefits of mindfulness in more detail.
Stress Reduction
Mindfulness is about freeing yourself from the cycle of worry and depression that is all too common. Stress comes in many forms and can have many causes, it could be work, family, relationships, health issues, and much more.
Fighting stress with mindfulness can be very effective and it’s been proven that the less stressed you are the longer and happier life you’ll live. So, if you are having a stressful time, undertaking some mindfulness exercises could be very beneficial.
Combatting Anxiety
Anxiety can again take many forms. Anxiety is a strong feeling of apprehension and worry about things to come. It’s a natural feeling for many people but in more extreme cases it can be incredibly damaging.
Many people who have to do a presentation at work will feel a little anxious about things but for some people anxiety can be extremely debilitating. Mindfulness can help you combat anxiety and worry because you will be placing a stronger emphasis on living in the present. This will help you free your mind of worrying thoughts making you happier and more confident.
Alleviate Depression
Depression is often the end result of stress and anxiety, but some people suffer from extreme cases of depression and there might not always be a clear reason to as why. Depression can have many harmful effects but once again mindfulness could be a big help in fighting it. Mindfulness exercises like meditation for example can help you free yourself of worry and find more strength and resilience leading to a happier, longer life.
Reduce Blood Pressure
A person’s blood pressure can raise if they are stressed or angry but there is strong evidence to suggest that mindfulness can actually help lower it. High blood pressure can cause a number of health issues, the most serious being the increased risk of blood clots developing and even the possibility of suffering a stroke.
Mindfulness helps you focus and avoid stress, so it can also help you stay calm, and altogether this makes it incredibly effective for combatting high blood pressure. You won’t just avoid the dangers of high blood pressure with mindfulness you’ll also be calmer and happier as well.
Improve Your Engagement / Sociability
One benefit of mindfulness that is not often talked about is how effective it can be when it comes to improving your sociability. Some people who suffer from issues like stress and anxiety will also often struggle with loneliness or being introverted.
By following mindfulness practices, you are more focused on the present and more engaged with your bodily senses. This means you will feel more engaged with your work and relationships which will have a big impact on your social life.
You’ll feel more confident talking to others, giving your opinions and it will do wonders for your self-esteem and feeling of self-worth. These are all big benefits that will help you combat loneliness and live and more productive and happy life.
We hope you’ve found this informative! Keep your eyes peeled on our blog for a future piece about tried and tested mindfulness techniques!
If you’d like more information about Mind Health Solutions and what we do, please do send us an email to info@mindhealthsolutions.co.uk