The Top 5 Reasons to Start Practicing Mindfulness
By Ashley Guava
Mindfulness is the awareness of thoughts, feelings, and sensations in the moment paired with the ability to let them come and go without judgment. When we hear words like mindfulness, it can be easy to assume it’s a lot of effort but there are simple ways we can practice daily.
So, why practice mindfulness?
1 Leave the negative self talk behind. According to research done by Dr. Jeremy Sutton, Ph.D, psychology shows that mindfulness can help us escape cycles of negative thinking and our reactive impulses and emotions. While we can’t evade our negative thoughts, we can choose what will happen next. Mindfulness allows us to pause, ground our mind in the present moment, and shift our perspectives of ourselves and our environment.
2 Reduced depressive symptoms and rumination. Rumination is constant worry about past events, negative emotions, and the causes and consequences of the emotions. It’s often linked to increased depression but regular mindfulness meditation has been shown to reduce both. Intentionally being attentive to what you do can help you find more joy in the simple pleasures.
3 Better memory. Those who practice mindfulness have better working memory than those who don’t, according to a study published in Cognitive Therapy and Research³. Having a good working memory helps us better emotionally regulate which lowers our responses to stress.
4 Better attention. Participants of a study published in Cognitive Therapy and Research reported that their attention improved after regular mindful meditation compared to before they began. There’s also been laboratory evidence, according to an eye tracking study published in Cognition and Emotion, suggesting people with longer mindfulness habits are better at ignoring emotional distractions in comparison to those with shorter practices.
5 Improve your communication and relationship satisfaction. The Journal of Marital and Family Therapy states that a mindfulness practice can improve relationship satisfaction and communication through better conflict resolution, better identification of one’s own emotions, and improved empathy. Research published in The Official Journal of the International Society for the Study of Individual Differences supports the benefits of mindfulness such as strengthening the ability to clearly communicate and a better response to stress which translates from personal to professional contexts.
Practicing being fully engaged in the moment is an inexpensive and easy way to practice self-care and appreciate your mind and body. The benefits of being mindful not only mentally help you feel your best, but also physically improve your health and wellbeing.
