The Best Mindfulness Practices For Each Type of Person
Mindfulness might seem a little woo woo to those who are new to the idea. What’s the point of being more present and in tune with our being? How can you incorporate it into your busy life?
Mindfulness therapy is becoming widely used in the world of psychology because it has such a deep-rooted and impactful potential. Mindfulness has been around for thousands and thousands of years, with beginnings from Buddha. However, this Buddhist practice has grown and morphed to keep up with the new world, and we are continuing to use it in adaptable ways. Mindfulness doesn’t have to be woo woo and spiritual. It is merely just being more aware of your present self, thoughts, feelings, and happenings. I wanted to share some mindfulness practices for every person-type to show that this practice is truly personal and can be done in simple ways daily. We don’t need to meditate for 100 days straight to reap the benefits.
For the busy body:
Don’t feel like you have enough time in the day for a mindfulness practice? Do it in the car at a traffic light. Do it in the shower. Do it while you’re walking into your office. Do it whenever you have an extra minute DURING your typical day.
Take three deep, long breaths and simply think, “Where am I right now? What am I doing? How am I feeling?”
Simple enough? These questions will instantly bring you back to reality, even if it’s just for a brief moment in time between your to-do list.
For the productive person:
This one hits home. I hate not being productive, so I try and think of mindfulness as productive because I recognize that increasing my awareness of self and others will lead me to be more productive. Plus, what’s more productive than working on yourself?
Moving meditation. Walks are my favorite form of moving meditation because I don’t have to overthink what I am doing and instead focus on meditation. Sometimes I use apps like HeadSpace or Calm, and sometimes I just see where my mind takes me. Yoga is another excellent moving meditation. Both of these I consider productive because you’re exercising and taking care of your body and brain simultaneously.
For the foodie:
This should be for everybody because mindful eating is so so so so so important. BUT especially for my fellow food lovers, this practice can make all the difference in your meals.
We all obviously enjoy our food, for the most part. But do we really appreciate the moments of eating? During your next meal, slow down. Take a few breaths in between bites. Recognize how the food is making you feel and how the company is making you feel. Do you have your phone on you? Put it away. What other distractions can you limit during mealtime? Meals are rituals and should be treated as such.
For the autopilot:
Sometimes we get so caught up in doing the same thing over and over day after day, we forget to stop and try something new.
If you’re exhausted from living your life on autopilot, take a minute to consider what you can adjust to bring more awareness to your day-to-day activities? Maybe it’s a new food. Perhaps it’s taking the long way home. Find little ways to switch it up and bring a unique mindfulness perspective.
For the commuter:
For some people, work from home isn’t forever. If you’re heading back to work or just finding yourself spending a lot more time in the car, drive mindfully.
Take a few deep, long breaths to calm your central nervous system. Driving can be stressful. Next, time a moment to take a look around you (while paying attention to the road). See anything new? See anyone you can relate to? Also, take the time to acknowledge how driving is making you feel and how you can adjust that if needed.
For the free bird:
Take advantage of having time to dive deep into mindfulness. Here are some practices to incorporate…
Meditation – no matter how short or long, try and get this in daily.
Gratitude journal – write down three things each day you are grateful for
Morning pages – write whatever your heart desires each morning for as long or as little as you want
Body scan – lay down, close your eyes and focus on each part of your body, starting at your head, going all the way down to your toes
Five senses exercise – notice how something smells, feels, sounds, looks, and tastes.
Meditative breathing – you can find a list on my post here.