A Beginner’s Guide: Mindfulness

Mindfulness is the state of being aware of the present. It is the practice of maintaining complete awareness of one’s present thoughts without any judgement.

Mindfulness is a type of meditation in which you are aware of your thoughts, sensations, and feelings at the moment, without judgement.

How To Get Started

Mindfulness meditation may seem difficult when you start but it is nothing that should cause you stress. Instead, it is there to relieve you of stress. These will guide you to practicing mindfulness.

1. Choose a time

Mindfulness meditation can be done at any hour of the day but you must choose a time to set apart for this practice. You can choose to add it as part of your morning routine, later in the day or just before you go to bed. Having a set time makes it easier to do it in your busy schedule.

2. Choose a place

You cannot practice mindfulness consistently if you haven’t decided where you want to practice it. This is because if you don’t have a place set apart for it, you are more likely to skip it. This place could be anywhere, your living room, bedroom, or just a quiet space in your room that can fit you.

3. Set no expectation

Don’t start mindfulness meditation with expectations of being great at it. Mindfulness is not a difficult practice but it can be challenging at first. You should start with an open mind and little expectations.

4. Don’t stop yet. 

You are just starting this practice, expect to have flops and mistakes and that’s okay. You might feel restless, scared, or even sleep off while practicing mindfulness, even I did. This is because we are used to a busy lifestyle and this experience seems boring to us. It shouldn’t enough to stop you from going on with it.

Benefits Of Mindfulness Meditation

Now that you have decided to try mindfulness meditation, it is important to know the benefits of it as it might help motivate you for your next session.

1. It reduces stress. 

Mindfulness meditation is always done in a calm environment, this is one way to prove that it helps reduce our stress level. It takes you away from a stressful environment, and the practice itself is stress-free. 

2. It declutters the mind.

Mindfulness is being aware of now and turning everything else off. It declutters our minds of regrets of the past and fear of the future and leaves us with the present. At the end of any mindfulness session, we are left with a free and calm mind.

Mindfulness is a practice that doesn’t require prior knowledge of it. It does not require any special skills or equipment; it only requires you. Mindfulness isn’t as difficult as it sounds and you might end up enjoying it. If you’re still skeptical about it or having issues trying to practice it, meditation apps such as Balance, Atom, and Medito might help. 

“Mindfulness isn’t difficult, we just need to remember to do it.” Sharon Salzberg