If there’s one important thing we learned from our just-ended wellness summit, it is the fact that being deliberate about our decisions and actions can have a significant impact on our emotional, mental and physical wellbeing. That’s the heart of mindfulness – creating habits that promote wellness. But what are some practical ways in which we can be mindful as we go about our busy lifestyles?
Pray:
It may seem very simple, but prayer has been proven to be a wonderful way to reduce stress, anxiety and encourage a positive outlook. Studies have linked prayer to psychological and biological effects that can potentially improve overall wellbeing. So, whether you’re a morning prayer person or an all-day one, activate this often to reap from its benefits. Once great way to create some habits of it is to schedule a time to pray in the middle of the day every day. Set your phone alarm to alert you to pray at a specific time in the day. (Read: 8 Great Ways To Deepen Your Spiritual Connection )
Meditate:
Research shows that meditation has the ability to reduce heart rate and stress as well as promote positive mood and self-esteem. Some amazing benefits of meditation include its ability to quiet your mind and leave you in a calm state. While it can be done at any time of the day, morning is mostly recommended because your mind is believed to be quiet at that time. Decide what time works for you and make it a point to put it into action.
Make the time:
Life moves fast but you have the power to slow it down to a pace that works for you. This means in spite of your busy lifestyle, you can make decisions that favor you, and that includes making time for the things that matter to your body. For instance, spending hours browsing social media feeds can turn into moments used to be present with yourself. Taking a walk at sunset or early in the morning can be a great quiet time.
Repetition is key to building a habit. Practice mindfulness by being deliberate with the frequency of those actions and they’ll eventually become part of your lifestyle.