We have all had to change our way of living quite considerably because of COVID 19. It’s not a situation that any of us would have imagined, it may feel more like being a character in a major film than real life!
Plans have been canceled, we can’t see and hug our families and friends. There is a great deal of uncertainty and a lot of information to take in and understand. It can be a very worrying, frightening, overwhelming, and confusing time for us all.
So, what can we do to help us get through this tough time?
Mindfulness is a simple, basic skill that every human being has, it is the ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we are doing without becoming overwhelmed or overreacting to what is happening around us.
The purpose of mindfulness is to understand our inner mental, physical and emotional workings, learning about the ways in which they are all connected. When we focus all our attention on what we are experiencing in the moment we are using our senses, our thoughts and feelings, and practicing mindfulness. There is a growing body of research that suggests that when we train our brains to be mindful, we are actually changing the physical structure of our brains.
Although we can all be mindful, it is like any other skill, the more we practice it the easier and more effective we become. It can become a daily habit; it doesn’t have to take long and it doesn’t need any specialist equipment …just yourself.
Getting started
- You don’t need any specialist equipment! You just need to set aside some time and space.
- Observe and accept the moment/present just as it is, without judgement. Sometimes easier said than done!
- Let your thoughts and judgments roll on by, you don’t need to try and stop them coming, let them pass by (you can come back to them later).
- Come back to the present, try not to judge yourself if your mind wanders, be kind, recognise the wandering and gently bring your self back into the present moment.
Positive thinking is key for effective stress management, which is associated with many health benefits. If you generally see a glass half empty, don’t despair, you can learn positive thinking skills.
Audley believes in the importance of a well-balanced mind, body and soul. We understand that staying positive can be one of those things that's easier said than done, that's why we've pulled together more health and wellbeing stories for you.
