1-03-2026 12:28pm

How To Use Mindfulness In Your Daily Living

Mindfulness is the practice of becoming more fully aware of the present moment rather than dwelling in the past, projecting into the future, or what’s going on around us. It involves a heightened awareness of sensory stimuli such as our breathing and being “in the now.”

Practicing mindfulness involves breathing methods, guided imagery, and other practices to relax the body and mind.

1. Find a comfortable place: You’ll want to find a comfortable seat in a relaxed and stress-free environment. Sit on a couch or chair with your feet on the ground. Allow your head and shoulders to rest comfortably; place your hands on the tops of your legs with upper arms at your side. Put your upper arms parallel to your upper body. Rest the palms of your hands on your legs.

2. Focus on your breathing: Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and relax. Keep your attention on the sensation of the inhale and exhale of your breath. Focus on the air moving through your nose or the rising and falling of your stomach and chest.

3. Reduce wandering thoughts: It’s normal to have wandering thoughts or distractions, so don’t judge yourself if you start becoming distracted. Instead of wrestling with your thoughts, let them pass by, without focusing on any thought. Thoughts will try to pull your attention away from your breathing. Notice them, but don’t pass judgment. Gently return your focus to your breath.

4. Tune into your senses: Sometimes, when we are stressed, focusing on what’s happening right in front of us can be a challenge in and of itself. Our minds are drawn to thinking about the future and all the bad things that are or could happen.

5. Live in the present: Focus your attention on what is happening right now, actively engaging with the current moment instead of dwelling on the past or worrying about the future.

6. Focus on one thing at a time: Multitasking can leave you feeling distracted, so concentrate on one task with your full attention.

7. Pay attention: It’s hard to slow down and notice things in a busy world. Take the time to experience your environment with all your senses including touch, sound, sight, smell, and taste. For example, when you eat a favorite food, take the time to smell, taste, and enjoy it.

8. Enjoy the small moments: Small moments in our lives include those that we do not typically notice and those we take for granted. A small moment may be having a cup of coffee or a cool glass of water, spending a moment with a child or pet, or performing any everyday activity that goes by without our attention. Enjoyment, peace, and serenity in life happen in the small moments.

9. Create a safe place: Similar to guided imagery, create a place that is safe and comfortable. It may be your favorite room or a cabin in the woods. Use your senses to fully enter the safe place. Stay in this place for a while and go there whenever you need to soothe and calm yourself.

10. Go outside: Spending time outdoors is a great way to live in the moment and observe the sights, sounds, and sensations around you.

BIOGRAPHY
Stan is the author of "A Layman's Guide to Managing Fear" which covers 200+ techniques that can drastically improve your mental health. For more information, please visit Stan's website at http://www.managingfear.com