Feeling Stressed Out? Here’s How To Include Mindfulness Into Your Busy Life

Make no mistakes, we’re all busier than we’ve ever been before. From trying to figure out your work-life balance to keeping up with your closest friends, there’s hardly a moment to just stop, breathe, and relax. If that sounds all too familiar to you right now, you may well need to find a way to get the timeout you so readily need.

You’ve likely heard of the so-called ‘mindfulness’ trend by now. Yes, it’s been the buzzword on everybody’s lips over the last couple of years and for good reason. Rumour has it that this form of meditation and self-reflection can help even the most stressed out of people get a little peace and quiet. But could it help us ladies more than our male counterparts?

According to a recent study by Brown University, it could indeed. In fact, it is women who tend to benefit much more than men once they start a mindfulness program. The results actually showed that this small, yet significant lifestyle change had some rather radical effects for ladies, including a major boost in self-compassion and self-acceptance.

Whether you’re feeling completely overwhelmed at the moment or just need a little time and space to yourself, there’s no end of ways in which this technique can help you, so where on earth should you start? Luckily, we have just the thing for you. Here are just two straightforward, quick techniques you can try at home.

1.  The Appreciation Technique

Think about it — there’s likely a whole wealth of things in your life which go unappreciated right now. When we get used to a particular standard of living, we often forget just how utterly lucky we are to have all that we do. That very notion is at the core of this technique; it’s what drives it forward. In short, this style of mindfulness helps you remember all of the blessings in your life and be thankful for them.

To start the process, you ought to find a quiet space where you can be alone with your thoughts. You may find that it helps you to have a notepad by your side so that you can write down how you’re feeling. Next, either in your mind or on paper, note just five things that have made you thankful today. Once you’ve done so, spend just ten minutes focusing on those particular things and how they’ve helped you. The change won’t come overnight but if you practice this one often enough, you will notice a real difference.

2.  The Immersion Technique

This next technique is a classic meditation method. What’s more, it’s oh-so-easy to get your head around once you get started. Rather than having to set aside a dedicated time for this on a daily basis, you can merely apply the approach to your daily life. It’s all about ‘flow’, i.e. that moment that you’re completely immersed in the task at hand and, therefore, aren’t able to fret or worry about anything else.

Here’s an example to help you along the way. Let’s say that you have to finish a report for work. It’s not the worst task in the world, but you’ve been putting it off all the same. Instead of watching the clock as you work, you need to allow yourself to get lost in what you’re doing. Turn off all the distractions — social media sites and your email — and just pay attention to what needs to be done. Right here. Right now. When you get it right, the feeling of pure calm is like no other.

Try mindfulness for yourself!

So, why not give one of these techniques a whirl for yourself? Remember, mindfulness is more than a mere media-endorsed fad; it’s a way of coping with the daily stresses and worries of life. Once you try it for yourself, you might just find that you feel like a whole new you.