This is not the norm and things are stressful right now. We are all struggling with the new reality of the global pandemic COVID-19 and trying to stay positive in these trying times. Practicing mindfulness can help to calm your worries and focus on the here and now rather than thoughts of the future and/or past.
“The idea is not to stop our mind from wandering. The point is to be mindful of its wandering and shift to where you want it to be.” – Daniel Goleman, Psychologist
Mindfulness is the ability to be fully present and aware of what we are doing. It brings more awareness into our bodies, thoughts, and emotions.
Some benefits of applying mindfulness into your life include:
- Increased happiness
- Reduced stress
- Improved self-connection
- Boosted self-control
- Enhanced productivity
- Increased resilience
Some tips to being mindful in your daily tasks:
- Be consciously present – start your day off with a clear intention. Spend some time planning what to focus on and stick to that plan the best you can.
- Avoid multi-tasking – this is difficult as we all have a lot going on but the best way is to prioritize and focus on one task at a time. Now is not the time to overwhelm and add more stress on ourselves.
- Slow down – walk rather than run through your tasks and take time to have intention (and possibly find some gratitude) in what you are doing.
- Accept what you can’t change – accept the present moment as it is and focus only on the things that are within your control. Dedicating your thoughts and worries to anything else is pointless and will not change the outcome.
Mindfulness takes practice but once you can observe the space between your thoughts, you can use this technique to make improvements in both your personal and professional life.
For more information about mindfulness and to learn how to practice meditation, check out the Meditation and Mindfulness resource in our Online Resource Centre.
