Being Mindful About Your Mental Health

When was the last time you had a one-on-one conversation with someone without glancing down at your phone? Or how about focusing all of your attention on eating your lunch with no book, no conversation and no distraction? For many of us, we aren’t able to recall the last time we were truly living in the present moment. Work, friends, family, obligations, and just day-to-day to-do lists cloud our minds forcing us to think of what is next instead of what is right in front of us. It’s exhausting—physically, emotionally but especially mentally. Taking care of our mental well-being isn’t just a good idea, it’s vital because it is at the center of every feeling, thought and relationship we have.

So, how can we stop and smell the flowers more, per se? Well, you can literally go smell some flowers which most likely would be an enjoyable experience. You can also think about areas of your life you can practice being more mindful.

Mindfulness is simply being more conscious or aware of the present moment. With that idea, the goal is to slow our minds down and turn off our autopilot settings to remember what is important and appreciate the world around you. This can seem overwhelming when we think of all the things we have to accomplish in a day vs how many hours we have in a day, but there are small, simple ways to practice mindfulness that will aid in your mental well-being.

Being Mindful with Your Environment

No, I am not going to tell you to clean out your whole closet and fold all your shirts into little rectangles, though Marie Kondo would be very pleased if you did. Your environment—your home, your work, your car, your street—can all impact your mental happiness without you really realizing. Have you ever noticed how a clean apartment feels vs a messy one? What about the feeling of fresh flowers in your kitchen? Taking a moment to focus on what you can do in your present space to make it more enjoyable to be in can make a world of difference at the end of the day.

Being Mindful with Your time

Yes, there are some days you aren’t able to tell everyone in your life “Hey, I am trying to be mindful and take my time with work. Please do not rush me.” However, there are ways you can have mindful moments among a busy schedule. Take a walk around the building after lunch, remember to breathe deeply and not slouch between tasks. Remember to say hi and strike up a conversation when getting coffee. Remind yourself of mental breaks, and suddenly the day is broken into easier pieces to digest.

Being Mindful Socially

As an introvert, I will be the first to tell you I get exhausted from too much social stimulation. If I don’t have at least one night alone at home, I feel myself slipping into a grumpy autopilot no one wants to be around. On the flip side, some of my friends feel lonely and upset unless they are able to spend time with a large group of their friends. Learning to understand the signs of social fatigue or lack of social stimulation can help manage stress and exhaustion easier. Also be mindful when it comes to others’ social signs. Communication is key.

Being Mindful Physically

The thing I love about yoga is that I can’t really think about anything else while I am in a class. If I lose my focus, I fall out of a pose and am abruptly reminded I wasn’t being mindful. Our bodies are capable of so many amazing things, don’t you think you should appreciate the movements it makes a little more? Think about that the next time you are walking around the block, taking a spin class or just stretching after a long day.

Being mindful allows us to understand and learn from our surroundings, ourselves and those around us within the present moment. Incorporating mindfulness into our everyday lives can improve our mental health and well-being in simple but effective ways.

If you are interested in understanding more about mindfulness and how to find balance in this ever-changing world, visit About Mindful Living. My mother, Betty Humphrey Fowler, and I created a space where we can explore different ways to be conscious and present in our everyday lives, and we love connecting with inspiring women!

Kimberly Fowler, Co-Founder of About Mindful Living

https://www.aboutmindfulliving.com/