Are you guilty of not paying attention in your lectures? Letting the hour (or two if you’re unlucky) drift by with nothing really to show for it other than having tirelessly worried about your coursework deadlines or having created a detailed mental analysis of your poor life decisions last Friday night? A struggle to focus on present situations and what is going on around us is a sign of mindlessness. As we try to juggle the present with thoughts on past or future experiences, mindlessness can lead to stress, anxiety and many other health problems.
So what’s the answer?
MindFULness! Becoming more aware of our thoughts, feelings and senses in the present, without passing judgement, can have a very positive impact on our mental health as well as performance. Mindfulness allows for a more positive mental attitude by just focusing on one thing and avoiding deeply analysing actions. This in turn improves concentration and generates a better work ethic; great if you’re looking for a way to boost your grades! So what can we do?
Mindful Breathing
We’ve all been told at one point or another to “take a deep breath and carry on.” Well this piece of advice can be more influential than you might think! Taking a couple of minutes each day to concentrate on the sensations of breathing has been proven to reduce stress levels. It allows you to concentrate on the here and now rather than focus on other parts of life that may be causing you stress. It allows you to cultivate a calmness of the mind to clear your head for the rest of the day’s activities.
Stop multi-tasking
Whether it’s when you’re brushing your teeth or taking a shower, we all use this time to do other things and fulfil these tasks on auto pilot. By truly focusing on shampooing your hair or how you brush your teeth, not only will you do a better job (nobody likes stinky friends) but you will begin to realise how much of your day is done without properly being thought through or appreciated!
Be a yoga queen
The numerous health benefits of yoga speak for themselves as it is proven to reduce stress, enhance concentration and improve memory. As well as being a form of mindful meditation, yoga adds a physical element to your day that provides a boost to your energy as well as a release of positive chemicals in the brain! Set aside just 15 minutes of your day where you bring your full awareness to both your physical and emotional senses as you move through each pose.
It’s a great excuse to take the time to enjoy what you eat!
Taking time during the day to appreciate the little things in life that make us happy (like cake or whatever you love to eat – I love cake!) liberates us from dwelling too much on daily concerns as we are able to simply focus on the sensations of taste and texture of our food and savour each and every mouthful! By turning off the TV or keeping away from your tech at mealtimes, you can escape from the real world for a little while and prevent mindless eating in front of Come Dine With Me – even the thought of this programme makes me hungry! It also encourages better digestion and prevents weight gain as you are more aware of how much you’ve eaten and when you’re full… Surely this is a no-brainer for most people!
Edited by Lucy Jackman
Sources:
https://blog.healthtap.com/2015/08/spotlight-on-dr-romila-mushtaq/
http://fireflowyoga.com/post-formats/prenatal/pregnancy-breathing/
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