Mindfulness Exercises
Mindfulness exercises let you "tune in" to yourself.
Distractions are let go, and your brain power is increased. The
exercises help you think more clearly and concentrate better.
The best news is that they are easier than you might think to
learn.
Easy Mindfulness Exercises
Anytime you are stressed, stop, and carefully watch yourself to
identify what's bothering you. You may be expecting something
bad to happen, or perhaps there is an argument going on just
below the surface of your consciousness, or you're worried about
something, or in pain in some way. Notice everything you can.
This self-observation is crucial. It will get easier as you do
it more. You'll start to realize just how many things are going
on in your own head, distracting you.
Now deal with these mind-irritants. Make the phone call that's
on your mind, take an aspirin, apologise to whomever you were
fighting with. You can write things on tomorrow's to-do list, to
get them off your mind. And if there's nothing you can do right
now, tell yourself that. When you do this exercise, you'll feel
less stressed, and more able to concentrate on the tasks at
hand. You can have more brain power today.
A Better Mindfulness Exercise
Sit down, relax and breath deeply through your nose. Let your
eyes close and be aware of your breath going in and out. Move
your attention to your body, one part at a time, noting
sensations of cold, hot, tight, sore and anything else you
identify. After a few minutes, start listening to sounds in the
room, without thinking about them. Just listen, while still
maintaining an awareness of your body and your breath.
In ten minutes or so, or when it feels right, open your eyes and
look around as if you are seeing for the first time. Let your
eyes rest on an object for half a minute, examining it without
talking about it in your mind. Then move to another object, and
another, while still maintaining an awareness of your body, your
breathing, and any sounds. Just stay in this state of
mindfulness for a few minutes, until you are ready to get up.
When you are aware of your body, breath and immediate
enviroment, you are more fully "in the moment." Your mind is in
a receptive state, with fewer mental distractions that can
prevent clear thinking. An exercise like this before important
mental tasks will give you greater brain power, specifically
more focus and concentration. Today is a good day to learn
something new. Why not try one of these mindfulness exercises?