10 Habits of Mindful People

These days, life seems extremely uncertain and unpredictable.  It can be a stressful roller coaster of ups and downs.  Days are filled with problems to solve, things to do, deadlines to meet, emails to answer, bills to pay, meals to make, places to go, people to care for… Distractions are everywhere so it’s often hard to stay focused.  And some days it can all feel very overwhelming.

Want to reduce stress, find more calm, see things more clearly and feel more grounded? 

Mindfulness is the answer.   

Mindfulness has literally transformed the way I think, feel and act, helped me to find so much more joy, inner peace, inspiration and creativity.  So this week I’d like to ignite your passion to cultivate mindfulness everyday.

This ancient Buddhist tradition originally meant to help people find enlightenment is now one of the most powerful and relevant tools we have to help us navigate our fast-paced, hyper-connected, ultra-distracting modern lives.  

A little reminder… Mindfulness is paying attention to all of our experiences (internal and external) in the present moment, with kindness, curiosity, and without judgement.  

By training yourself to live fully in the present moment instead of ruminating on the past or worrying about the future, you can rediscover a sense of peace and calm, more happiness, more enjoyment in your life, better relationships.  And mindfulness trains you to face stressful situations and difficult challenges with greater resilience, steadiness, serenity and self-confidence.

Then there are the thousands of scientific studies that have illustrated the effects and benefits of mindfulness practices.  The list is impressive and includes reduced feelings of depression, anxiety and anger, lower stress levels, reduced chronic pain, increased immune response, better sleep, even better digestion.  

So many benefits…why wouldn’t you want to practice mindfulness?

Meditation is one of the main practices to train the brain and to build mindfulness. But to become a truly mindful person there is so much more you can do.  Mindful people bring awareness to every aspect of their life until it is no longer a practice but quality of mind and a way of living.

Take inspiration from these 10 things that mindful people do everyday.  

1. They are deeply connected to their 5 senses,intentionally noticing what they experience, moment by moment, aware of the sights, sounds, scents, textures and tastes of every experience. Connecting with your senses is one of the best ways to get grounded in the present moment.
2. They are aware of their breath.They use ever-present breath as an anchor to the present moment.  Breath awareness meditation is a core mindfulness practice.  And it can also be used to relieve stress and anxiety in any moment. 
   
3. They eat healthy. They pay attention what they put into their bodies and so tend to make healthier, higher quality food choices.  They also tend to slow down and experience their food with their senses, which may lead to feeling fuller sooner and so eating smaller portions. 
   
4. They spend time in nature.  Mindful people don’t necessarily venture into nature more than others but, as nature is a perfect place to practice mindfulness, they tend to feel more connected to nature and are drawn to it and all the sensations it offers.
   
5. They are good listeners, fully present for those they are with.  Listening is a form of compassion and kindness.  Mindful people tend to listen to others without judging and are more open to other perspectives leading to greater understanding of others.  
   
6. They are aware of how their energy affects others, and they adjust to remain kind and compassionate. Words and actions have power - it’s a form of energy. Mindful people have built up the ability to take a micro pause before speaking or reacting and they can adjust to remain kind and compassionate in everything they do and say.  This, along with mindful listening, leads to more caring and understanding relationships.
   
7. They observe their thoughts, feelings and emotions as “mental events” and not facts. They pay attention to their sensations, thoughts, feelings and experiences without believing they are right or wrong, good or bad.  They just ARE.  With this, they are better able to let go of unhelpful stories, negative thoughts, worries, emotions and distractions that cloud their mind.  And this brings more confidence. 
   
8. They turn daily tasks into mindfulness practices. Walking, eating, brushing their teeth, sitting down etc. all become opportunities to practice being connected to their experience.  Daily tasks become little rituals to bring them back to the present moment, over and over all day.
   
9. They unitask.  Mindfulness trains us to choose what we want to focus on. There will always be distractions in anything we do.  But mindful people have learned to focus (mostly) on one thing at a time, giving it their undivided attention. Unitasking is actually a much more efficient and effective way to get things than multitasking.  Really.
10. They intentionally cultivate gratitude.  Because they have a rich awareness of each moment, even the small details, mindful people tend to see things with positivity and to appreciate all they have instead of focusing on what they don’t have.  They find joy, pleasure and appreciation in small things as well as major things.  

 
There are many ways and practices to cultivate mindfulness.  The most important thing I can tell you is ... start now!  You’ve only got one life to live.  Don’t let another day go by without noticing every part of your experience, instead of being lost in your thoughts of the past or your plans for the future.

Here are some HUM resources to help you:

What Exactly is Mindfulness, and How Do I Practice it Everyday?

See Things Differently: 7 Fun Ways to Practice Mindfulness

Just Be Here: 10 Mini Mindfulness Practices for Every Day

How to Bring Mindfulness to Any Yoga Practice