Everyday Mindfulness Practices

“Grounding techniques: Grounding is a set of simple strategies that can help you detach from emotional pain (e.g., anxiety, anger, sadness, self-harm). It is basically a way to distract yourself by focusing on something other than the difficult emotions you are experiencing. You may also think of grounding as centering, distracting, creating a safe place, or healthy detachment.

Grounding techniques include:

Mindful walks: (walking very slowly and truly observing the environment). Noticing the shapes of the leaves on different trees, the varied colors of the foliage. There are many, many shades of green in Nature, and they change throughout the seasons. Notice whatever catches your eye, and look as though you were seeing for the first time.

Sensory awareness: Experiencing the present moment through touch, taste, hearing, vision, and smell.

Putting one foot in front of the other: This is a practice of staying in the present moment. I can’t predict the future; I can only take care of the things that are right in front of me in the present moment.

HALT. Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired: This acronym is often used in AA or NA meetings to encourage stopping the ruminating mind and checking in with the body. Sometimes our feelings of overwhelm can be helped by a bite to eat, a nap, or some companionship.

Creating and sharing. Writing. Doing crafts: It doesn’t have to be a big expense of time or money on your part. If you don’t care to do crafts, you can volunteer with the packaging and mailing of the donated items.

Breathing practices: On your inhale, tell yourself, “breathing in, I know I’m breathing in” and on the exhale say, “breathing out, I know I’m breathing out.” Try it a few times. It will force you to gain a little focus.”

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✨Takeaway: Sometimes it’s hard to address every issue you are facing. However, mindfulness practices can play a part to less your worries by helping to avoid dwelling on negative thoughts.

✨Reflection: How do you practice everyday mindfulness?

#Mindfulness #Wellbeing #Grounding #Techniques