May is Mental Health Awareness Month, making now the perfect time to take a closer look at ways to boost your mental health. One simple lifestyle change that you can make is incorporating a daily practice of mindfulness. Research supports its usefulness for individuals suffering from something as simple as daily stress to chronic problems like anxiety or depression. 

In today’s blog post, I want to define mindfulness, offer two easy methods for practicing it, and then look at three ways it can improve your mental health.

What Is Mindfulness?

Mindfulness is a common word these days, but many people still wonder what it means. Put simply, it is an awareness of the present moment coupled with a mindset of openness and acceptance. Awareness refers to your ability to recognize and identify your emotions, worries, negative beliefs, and hurtful self-talk, ultimately allowing you to be more adaptable in your responses. Your positive and willing attitude, then, allows you to accept your circumstances rather than suppress or struggle with them. 

It’s easy to see why mindfulness is a form of self-care. It has the power to change your habitual reactions and emotional patterns by helping you adopt a new perspective. Specifically, it helps you tap into emotional regulation, letting you know immediately that you need to stop your thoughts or change the direction of your feelings. 

How to Practice Mindfulness

Here are two simple ways that you can begin to practice mindfulness. 

• S.T.O.P.: Slow down. Take a breath. Observe your body, thoughts, and feelings. Process your possibilities; then proceed.

• 5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Exercise: Look for 5 things you can see. Identify 4 things you can touch. Recognize 3 things you can hear. Notice 2 things you can smell. Name 1 thing you can taste.

Three Ways That Mindfulness Can Boost Your Mental Health

Below, let’s look at three reasons why mindfulness can improve your mental health.

• It helps you practice better stress management: Stress affects everyone. Too much stress can lead to both mental health disorders, like anxiety or depression, and physical health problems, like high blood pressure or cardiovascular disease. Fortunately, mindfulness is an excellent coping mechanism. 

• It leads to better emotional regulation: As I touched on above, studies show that mindfulness can improve a person’s ability to manage their emotions and control their impulses. Without this skill, someone may experience more conflict, emotional outbursts, increased stress, and other mental health issues.

• It can help sufferers control anxiety: Anxiety, a mental health disorder that includes excessive uneasiness and worry, affects nearly one in five Americans. It is often coupled with compulsive behavior and/or panic attacks. Fortunately, research shows that patients who practice consistent mindfulness experienced decreased symptoms and longer-lasting results. 

If you’re interested in exploring this idea further, consider downloading an app like Calm or Headspace. These guided meditations will help you dive deeper into your mind and show you just how powerful the regular practice of mindfulness can be for your mental health.

Discover the possibility of living a meaningful life. Discover the possibility of recovery. Reach out to Dr. Benaaz Russell, PsyD, CEDS today to schedule an appointment!