Find your Zen to improve your physical and mental health
In the chaos of the lifestyles we lead today, achieving mindfulness can feel like trying to catch a breeze in a storm. Yet we can vouch for the fact that it’s not only possible, but when you do achieve it, the results are extremely rewarding. If you're ready to embrace a calmer, more focused version of yourself, read on to learn how to achieve mindfulness and how to integrate it into your daily life.
What is mindfulness anyway?
Mindfulness is talked about a lot right now, but not everyone really ‘gets it’. In short, it’s the practice of being fully present and engaged in the moment, aware of your thoughts and feelings without being overwhelmed by them. It’s about observing your experiences without judgment – a form of mental clarity and tranquility, where you can acknowledge your emotions and sensations without getting swept away.
The (surprisingly long list of) benefits of mindfulness
Mindfulness can be the ideal way to reconnect with yourself and, in turn, form stronger connections with the other people in your life. To become more present, less reactive, more responsive, less stressed. To gain clarity and feel more joy!
Some of the most talked about benefits of mindfulness are:
- Reduced stress levels: By focusing on the present, you can help to diminish the effects of stressors in your mind and your life.
- Better emotional health: Regular mindfulness practice can improve and regulate your mood while reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety.
- Enhanced focus and concentration: We all know that life is a constant juggle. Mindfulness can help you stay present, improve your attention span and boost productivity. Something we can all benefit from!
- Better physical health: Believe it or not, it’s not just your mind that benefits from mindfulness. It’s also known to reduce blood pressure, improve sleep, and boost immune function too.
- Increased self-awareness: Want to understand and manage your thoughts and emotions better? Make better decisions and choices? Mindfulness could be just the ticket.
So how does mindfulness reduce stress?
Stress often rears its head when you’re worrying about the future or ruminating over the past. Mindfulness breaks the cycle by shifting your focus to the present moment. It’s by listening to your thoughts and feelings without judgment, that you can reduce the power they have over you. This mental shift reduces the body's stress response, lowers cortisol levels and promotes a blissful state of calm.
Practices and exercises to help you achieve mindfulness
For some simple ways to achieve mindfulness in your daily life, start by introducing some of these rituals:
- Breathing exercises
- Sit comfortably, close your eyes, and take some deep breaths
- Focus on the sensation of your breath entering and leaving your body
- If your mind wanders, gently bring your focus back to your breath
- Try this for 5-10 minutes daily to try and cultivate a habit of mindfulness
- Body scanning
- Lie down in a comfortable position and close your eyes
- Slowly bring your attention to different parts of your body, starting from your toes and moving gradually up to your head
- Notice any sensations, tension, or areas of relaxation
- This practice helps connect your mind and body, improving your overall awareness
- Walking and grounding
- Walk slowly and deliberately, focusing on the sensation of your feet hitting the ground
- If you’re on grass, remove your shoes and pay attention to the sensation underfoot
- Become aware of the sights, sounds, and smells around you
- Walking mindfully can transform a mundane activity into a grounding and rejuvenating experience
- Morning rituals
- Start your day with a few minutes of mindfulness practice
- Sit quietly, breathe deeply, and set an intention for the day
- This sets a positive tone and helps you carry mindfulness into your daily activities
- Mindfulness in daily activities:
- Bring mindfulness into everyday tasks like eating or brushing your teeth
- Focus on the sensations, smells, tastes and textures
- This practice helps to seamlessly integrate mindfulness into your routine
Why does mindfulness work?
Mindfulness isn't just for hippies! Turns out there’s science in it too. Neuroscientific research shows that it can actually rewire your brain structures associated with attention, emotion regulation, and self-awareness. By doing this, it helps you manage stress and balance your emotions, plus it helps you be nicer to yourself, which is always a good thing, right?
Morning mindfulness
It wouldn’t be right if we didn’t suggest adding a cup of SoulBrew Rise to your morning ritual to help you be more mindful. Here’s why:
In a world that doesn’t stop moving, it’s essential to find your inner calm to improve your wellbeing. When we’re juggling all the balls, it’s hard to see the wood for the trees. The potent adaptogens in SoulBrew Rise like Ashwagandha, Cordyceps mushrooms and Turmeric, improve how your body deals with stress, anxiety and fatigue, promoting relaxation and balancing your body’s stress response, helping you feel like you – but better.
We’ve worked hard to balance the ingredients that provide energy and focus with those that soothe your mind, reduce your stress and put you a peaceful state of mind, making them an excellent companion for your mindfulness journey.
- Ashwagandha helps to reduce anxiety and boost resilience to stress
- Turmeric and Coconut Nectar help to stabilise blood sugar levels, reducing mood swings and irritability
- Cardamom and Ginger work together to calm the digestive system while also calming the mind
Prepare your SoulBrew mindfully to help set the scene for your day ahead! Focus on the process of making it, from the sound of the water boiling, to inhaling the spiced chocolate aroma. Sip slowly and savour the moment.
Mindfulness is a journey
Mindful techniques can help you cut through the noise, stop the treadmill and reduce the overwhelm brought on by the busyness of everyday life. Slow down, become more conscious, connected, calm, and feel the difference. Let go of triggers, prioritize, better, listen, engage on a deeper level, be more fulfilled.
Try bringing some new rituals into your every day, experiment and decide what works for you. Embrace the journey and reap the benefits of a more mindful existence.
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