Many people today are interested in including mindfulness activities in their lives to help reduce stress and improve self-awareness. If you’re looking for mindfulness activities for adults, our holistic therapy program in Texas can help. Call Santé Center for Healing at 866.238.3154 if living a more peaceful life is one of your New Year’s resolutions.
The Benefits of Mindfulness – One of the Easiest New Year’s Resolutions You Can Make
Mindfulness practices have been used for centuries. Their efficacy is attested through traditional practices, but also evidence-based analysis and testing. While the effects vary from practitioner to practitioner, and there are many different types of mindfulness practices, the benefits are undeniable.
Some of these benefits include:
- Reduced anxiety
- Reduced stress
- Cognitive improvements, such as better memory and better focus
- More positive relationships
- Increased emotional regulation
- Reduced depression
- Improved physical health
Incorporating even a few mindfulness activities for adults into your regular routine may help you enjoy these benefits.
5 Easy Mindfulness Activities for Adults
Meditation may be the most widely known mindfulness activity, but it’s not the only way to reap the benefits of mindfulness. These five suggestions can help you retrain your brain to quiet the internal chaos.
1. Practice Gratitude
Keep a gratitude journal to promote more positivity in your life and focus on what is good. A gratitude journal can be nothing more than a daily list of three to five items that you are thankful for or that made you feel good.
2. Mindful Eating
If you are in the habit of scarfing down your meals quickly without much thought, you’re missing out on many of the pleasures food can bring. Mindful eating is about slowing down. Turn off the television, and put down your phone. Eat at least the first few bites of your meal in grateful silence, savoring the aromas, textures, and flavors of your food.
3. Deep Breathing
Deep breathing is a mindfulness activity you can do anywhere. When you notice yourself feeling stressed or becoming overwhelmed with unwanted thoughts, take a deep breath.
Inhale and exhale slowly through the nose. Imagine your head clearing of unwanted thoughts as you exhale and filling with clarity as you inhale. Repeat until you feel calmer and more focused.
4. The Body Scan
The Body Scan is a meditation exercise you can do anywhere at any time. It requires no props, and it can be done in any position. Start by taking a deep breath to clear your mind.
Check-in with each section of your body, starting with your head and moving down to your feet (scalp, face, ears, neck, shoulders, etc.). Are you feeling any pain or discomfort there? If so, focus on relaxing that area, then move to the next area.
5. The 5 Senses
The 5 Senses exercise is a great one to practice when you are feeling anxious. Focus on something unusual within your space, such as a shadow on the wall. Take a deep breath, and ask yourself, “What am I seeing right now?” Describe the shadow to yourself in full detail.
Take another deep breath and ask yourself, “What am I hearing right now?” Continue the process with all five senses: sight, hearing, touch, sound, and smell.
Start to Enjoy Life With the Help of Santé Center for Healing
At Santé Center for Healing, we understand the value of including holistic healing methods in our recovery programs. Mindfulness is a valuable tool for managing stress and remembering how to enjoy life without depending on drugs or alcohol.
Contact Santé Center for Healing online or call 866.238.3154 if you’re interested in learning more about how mindfulness can aid your recovery journey.