Mindfulness. We’ve all heard this trendy word, but what does it really entail? Read on for 5 simple ways to incorporate being more mindful into your day to day life.

Meditation

Meditation is one of the simplest and most common ways to increase your mindfulness. A few minutes a day can help you overcome day-to-day stress better.

Deep Breathing

Focusing on breathing fully and completely counteracts the effects that stress has on the body by lowering your heart rate as well as blood pressure.

The next time you are stressed try taking a 5 minute break to concentrate on breathing.

Be Present

While you practice deep breathing you can also practice this skill of “being present”. Take in your surroundings fully and spend time in the moment to connect to how your senses feel.

Tune into your Body

Try doing a mental scan of your body to understand how stress is affecting each part. Start by lying on your back and then taking into account how each area of your body feels. Work your way from the tips of your toes all the way up to the top of your head. Notice how your body feels and where you are holding stress.

Get Moving

Being active for even 20 minutes a day can relieve stress without you even realizing it. Even a quick walk through your neighborhood, will bring blood to all areas of the body and stimulate your brain to release “feel-good” chemicals, like dopamine.

So really, is your “mind full” or could you stand to be a little more “mindful”?