How To Establish More Mindful Presence In Your Life

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The world is filled with stimuli and pressure to move at a fast pace constantly. But do you ever feel like you need to slow down and be present in your mind, body, and surroundings? You have the power to take a pause and do what’s best for you in each moment. Slowing down and practicing mindfulness can help you lead a healthier life and find satisfaction easier.

The practice of mindfulness is intended to help you find peace and presence in the everyday. Mindfulness involves paying attention to sensations, surroundings, and emotions as they come and go so that you can connect with yourself and feel centered in whatever space you inhabit. There are a few ways to practice this, and you can focus on whichever ideas feel most natural to you.

SEE ALSO: Why Is Loving Yourself So Damn Hard?

Focus on your surroundings

One of the most common and effective ways to practice mindfulness is attempting to be present in every task and place you find yourself in. This can also work all throughout your day if you’re willing to devote your focus there. You can take mindful walks, listening to the sounds in nature, and feeling the sensations of the weather all around you. You can cook a beautiful meal and enjoy the sounds and smells of the process before sitting down to savor every bite.

Choose elements of your surroundings that could bring you some joy if you let them capture more of your attention. Getting rid of distractions and clearing the path for one chosen sensation to capture your focus can help you feel centered, present, and happy.

Practice meditation

Meditation can be a brilliant tool for slowing down and reminding yourself of the present moment. It can clear blockages in the mind by calming and relaxing you, which many people need. Meditation doesn’t have to take a ton of time, either. Researchers have found that people who meditate as little as four hours per week can achieve a state of mindfulness that leads to creative flow.

Whether you prefer to meditate in silence or listen to guidance from teachers or apps, you can use your time as a tool to focus inward and slow the thoughts rolling through your mind. Meditation isn’t about clearing your head of thoughts — in fact, it can be about noticing things around and within you.

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Put an end to multitasking

While multitasking may seem efficient, it can actually slow you down and create a confusing brain fog around tasks and ideas you’re juggling. We live in a world filled with constant pressure to accomplish things and complete tasks, and it may feel necessary to tackle multiple things at once. However, this habit isn’t beneficial to your mental health or your productivity.

Splitting your attention between multiple tasks can slow your focus and actually decrease productivity, which is no surprise, as remaining mindful and present can be beneficial in increasing your work efficiency and producing higher quality work. If you can, it’s best to limit multitasking and focus on only one thing at a time.

Find grounding all-around you

Practicing grounding techniques throughout your day that anchor you within your surroundings can bring a sense of peace and tranquility. You can do any number of exercises, from focusing on the breath and counting your breathing to kicking off your shoes and feeling the earth beneath your feet. Grounding is all about stopping to notice your surroundings, which is a great practice to adopt regardless of your current moods — it can calm you if you’re anxious and help you find more connection if you’re already feeling serene.

Sensory grounding is an exercise that uses all of the senses to help settle and soothe you. You can go through the process of noticing all five senses around you, or you can go about your day with more of an awareness to constantly remain mindful of sensations you might have let slip past you before. Grounding yourself can help you feel present no matter where you are.

In a world that can feel both numbing and overwhelming, remaining mindful and present is one of the best ways you can care for yourself and find connection with the world around you. All you have to do is breathe, tune in, and listen.