Mindfulness—a state of being aware of your current surroundings as well as your inner feelings—is a skill that can, and should be practiced by everyone. Here are different ways you can integrate these beneficial principles in your life…

• Follow Ultradian Rhythm: According to research, after every 90 minutes of mental work, there is a drop in energy. At this point, you need to take a few minutes off to practice deep breathing or then take a short nap or just observe nature. This recurrent practice will help you concentrate on the rest of the day better.

• Gratitude all the way: Always be thankful for what you have today, and not worry too much about the only thing that really exists, and what we can control, is the present. Keep a gratitude journal and every night or morning write down all the things you are grateful for in your life. You’ll find most of your worries take back seat when you do this on a daily basis.
• Find your place: Everyone have a special place where they find peace and calm. A physical space—could be a house of worship, or even a bedroom or a park—where they are actually able to forget their problems and just be. Whenever you find yourself getting anxious or upset, go to your ‘happy’ place and you’ll immediately find some relief.
• It’s okay to ‘wander’: Sometimes day-dreaming or getting lost in your own world can help you get back to routine better. On an average, we all have an attention span of 20 minutes, post which we wander off a bit. This is not a bad thing at all as it could help you deal better with mental fatigue.

• Go for ‘mindful’ walks: Walking and talking has always been a way of venting out to close family and friends. Walks increase the good hormone— serotonin levels—in your brain, helping you distress and refresh.

• Find your state of meditation: You don’t have to be in a state of zen always. For many, de-stressors could include activities like cooking, knitting, drawing, painting, solving a puzzle or even dancing. You need to find your definition of ‘meditation’, anything that puts you at ease.
• Download mindfulness apps: All smart phones today offer mindfulness apps, which can be easily downloaded and tuned into from anywhere. Insight Timer, Calm, Headspace, Buddhify are just some of the popular apps helping people take time-out from their hectic lifestyles.

Master these skills and stay tuned for our next blog on ‘Mindful Eatingand Weight Loss.’