Mindfulness Mondays #2
Mindfulness is one of those words we hear a lot, but what does it even mean?
To put it simply, mindfulness is paying attention to the present with curiosity instead of judgment.
This series is meant to offer simple things to try in your day to day that might help reduce stress, interrupt negative thinking patterns, and bring more calm to your life.
Try this:
Take a moment wherever you are and take in your surroundings.
Pick a letter from the alphabet and name everything you see that starts with that letter and get as specific as you can.
Let’s try “C.”
calendar
cup
coffee cup
coffee stain on coffee cup
chapstick
cherry seltzer water can
cherries on cherry seltzer water can
clock
cactus
couch
Clif bar wrapper
Clif bar crumbs
crochet pickle your mom gave you that says “Emotional Support Pickle” (hi mom!)
If you run out of things, pick the next letter until you’re in a different headspace.
If you’d like to compare, notice how many “S” words are surrounding you versus “T” words (or any other letter of your choosing). Does it create a fun mad lib?
Why this works: it gently redirects your attention from racing thoughts to your current environment. When we intentionally notice what's around us, it brings us back to the present and our nervous system has a chance to slow down.
Like any skill, mindfulness becomes easier with practice. The more often you practice when you're calm, the more available it becomes when life feels overwhelming.
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