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Wellness, Mindfulness, and Self-Care

Wellness, Mindfulness, & Self-Care

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Mindfulness is one of the most comprehensive ways to practice self-care, which refers to YOU taking care of YOU! Self-care helps you be the best you can be for yourself, your loved ones, and all of those around you.

Mindfulness, simply stated, means focusing on the present without judgement- not thinking about the past or the future; simply noticing and accepting where you are right now. It sounds quite simple, but can be difficult to achieve in our daily lives, especially when we're stressed or overwhelmed.

Some benefits of mindfulness include:

  • Enhancing the ability to focus
  • Increasing enjoyment of moments, big and small
  • Increasing motivation 
  • Enhancing sense of control and sense that we can handle anything that comes our way
  • Decreasing stress, anxiety, and other uncomfortable emotions

 

Consider the difference between a mind that is "full" and a mind that's "mindful":

 

Is your mind %22full%22 or %22mindful%22?

 

Mindfulness is a skill that can be learned and practiced. It may seem weird or too hard at first, but the more you practice it, the easier it gets and the easier it is to incorporate into your daily life. And the more it's incorporated into your daily life, the more benefit you get from it.

There are many ways to practice mindfulness. This is good because everyone is different and some people will like some forms of mindfulness more than others. Keeping an open mind is important! See the links below for different ways to practice mindfulness:

 

 

Mindfulness Exercises by Category

Note that many exercises use multiple categories. For example, in meditation and yoga you're also focusing on your breathing.

Breathing

Meditation

Body Scan / Muscle Relaxation

Yoga / Stretching

Using the Senses

Other Ways to Practice Mindfulness