Mindful habits to adopt for self-care

By Sheela Krishnaswamy

New Delhi, Sep 12 (SocialNews.XYZ) The 12th of September is recognised as Mindfulness Day, with the goal of educating people about the benefits and worth of practising mindfulness as well as how to do so. Research has proven that mindfulness training reduces stress. With mindfulness-based therapy, it may be feasible to change the affective and cognitive processes that are at the root of a number of clinical disorders.

There are many ways to include mindful practises into your everyday routine; here are three:

Mindful snacking:

According to studies, mindfulness therapies are being used more frequently to treat obesity in the hopes that these techniques may encourage behavioural change and boost weight loss. You could notice yourself snacking excessively or stress eating on occasion while working or watching online entertainment. When you eat, it's crucial to be in the present. Put your current activities aside and concentrate on your meal. You might also include nutritious snacks in your diet, such as almonds. A handful of almonds may have satiating qualities that encourage a feeling of fullness, which may prevent hunger between meals.

It's crucial to have nutritious snacks on hand, like almonds, during evening snack time or when watching movies, to help you resist the impulse to eat junk food. The secret is to keep your cupboard with a variety of healthy snacks, such as almonds, seasonal fresh fruits, popcorn kernels, makhana, and other healthy foods. Habits are difficult to break, so be patient with yourself.

Mindful meditation:

Among many other formal meditation techniques, there are those that emphasise breathing awareness, compassion or kindness, or the use of mantras or other specific words or phrases. Every meditation technique is built on the simple act of becoming aware of the present moment.

Being aware of what is happening in the present moment is necessary for being able to see what is arising and what is fading. We find that by doing this and by letting thoughts to flow and go without attachment or trying to hold onto them, serenity and stillness arrive. We gradually grow to know our own minds and become aware of the frequent thought patterns we have. As a novice, you can start your meditation practise by sitting on the bed and focusing solely on your breath for 10 minutes each day. You would benefit more from the assistance of a qualified meditation teacher.

Mindful exercise:

Yoga has been demonstrated in tests to be more beneficial than non-mindful exercises for reducing the symptoms of anxiety. It has been suggested that yoga might be used as a basic healthcare intervention to help patients cope with anxiety. We all struggle with anxiety and stress on a daily basis. Given the uncertainty of the world around us and the constant change in our surroundings, it may be quite challenging to maintain a calm frame of mind.

Exercise that combines a mental and physical component is known as mindful exercise. It usually entails light to moderate physical exertion while simultaneously focusing the mind on breathing and meditation. Qigong, yoga, and tai chi are a few common mindful workouts. Exercise with awareness at least three times per week.

(Sheela Krishnaswamy, Nutrition & Wellness Consultant)

(IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in)

Source: IANS