At HHHunt, we believe it’s how you live that matters and a big part of Vision is creating places where people can live healthy lives – both physically and mentally. Stress, anxiety, and constant problem solving can put a drain on us emotionally so it is important to take a step back and be mindful of who we are and what we are trying to do. Mindfulness is a type of meditation which helps us to refocus and relaxes our minds so that we avoid burnout. As we start a New Year, we wanted to share some ways on how to be more mindful in 2020.
- The Raisin Exercise: If you are new to mindfulness, starting with a simple exercise will help you find your path to a more mindful life. To start, pick up a few raisins and examine them. Look at every detail of the raisins, the texture, the smell, the color, etc. The more time you spend examining the raisin, you will begin to feel as though you have never seen a raisin before. Focusing on a single object clears your mind of other distractions like work.
- Body Scan Meditation: The body scan meditation is an exercise designed to help you understand and acknowledge what is happing with your body. Lie on your back with your legs and arms extended and your palms up. Start with your toes and focus on each part of your body moving up to the head. Make yourself aware of anything you feel during this process whether it be a slight pain or comfort. This meditation will help you identify which physical parts of your body need to be addressed.
- Mindful Listening: Have you ever been in a situation where you were trying to speak with a friend or family member but they kept interrupting you? Have you ever done that to someone? One of the most important things we can do for those we care about is to listen to them. You can integrate mindfulness into this by taking in every word that the person is saying and clearing your mind of any response. By focusing on listening and not a rebuttal or response, you will better hear the other person’s perspective and thought process.
- Mindful Writing: Many of us are constantly sending e-mails for work or for our personal lives every day. Because we’ve gotten so used to e-mail, we’ve forgotten to take the time to actually think about the act of writing itself. One of the best ways to practice mindful writing is to journal. This allows you to reflect on your day but it also focuses you on the act of writing – pen to paper.
As we enter 2020, we hope that you will consider these mindfulness exercises as an opportunity to reflect and relax. Mindfulness should be practiced for at least 15 minutes a day. Let’s get started.