Mindfulness is a mental health trend you’ve probably heard of by now, but you may be wondering what it really is. From meditating to detoxing, mindfulness is the promotion of both inner and outer awareness; it promotes a fuller sense of presence. With that, it works to improve your mental health and encourages you to remember: “WE’RE ALL WORKS IN PROGRESS” - Leah Weiss While mindfulness and meditation are always important, it’s especially important considering the current world state. As we are asked to stay inside and maintain social distancing, we may feel as if we are losing touch with the outside world and maybe even ourselves. Rather than letting social distancing get the better of us, we here at Paradox suggest that you use this time to find yourself and become more mindful and intentional in your daily life. Hence, we have hand crafted this guide for you to help you practice mindfulness everyday: GETTING STARTED: RESOURCES TO HELP Sometimes it can be difficult to start and maintain mindfulness routines on your own. Hence, having resources at your side is a good place to start. Luckily for you, the Paradox staff has come together to find the best resources to help you! One such source is this Guided Meditation provided by our friends over at MamaP. Meditation is perhaps one of the most well-known and proven ways to increase mindfulness. Guided meditations are a helpful way to start practicing mindfulness, as they guide beginners and gurus alike in a journey of self-discovery and re-balancing. This source is set against a natural background, which serves to limit distractions and help you to become more grounded and centered within yourself. Another great source is the Calm app for meditation and sleep. The Calm app uses a personalized quiz to cater their services to you and your needs, asking you what you intend to get out of the app. For instance, are you looking to develop gratitude, reduce stress, improve sleep, or a mixture? The Calm app offers playlists, videos, and guided audio programs to help you become more in tune with yourself and your surroundings. For more information on the Calm app, check out their website: here. SETTLE YOUR MIND Why? Settling your mind is an important step in mindfulness and meditation. Oftentimes, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by overthinking. Settling your mind can work to help to limit this overthinking and promote a greater sense of awareness within the moment. This adds a layer of calm and peace to your overall mindset, which sets a great precedent for meditation and meditative practices. How? Start a daily journal Practice yoga Use guided meditations Diffuse essential oils Take a walk in nature Do some arts and crafts DETOX YOUR SPACE Why? It’s important to detox your space, both internally and externally. Cluttered spaces lead to cluttered minds, which can lead to symptoms of anxiety and increased stress. Taking time to clean through the clutter in your external space, as well as the stressors in your internal space, works to promote more positivity and proactivity in your daily life. With a detoxified space, you become more ready for meditative practices. How? Take a break from technology Detox your social media Clean your room Reorganize your beauty cabinet Clean through your closet Eat healthier and drink detox water PROMOTE POSITIVITY Why? One of the pillars of mindfulness is the idea of being present: a notion that is imperative to successful meditations. This means that you are truly in the moment, which can be hard to do when you are stuck in the negatives and anxious about the past. Promoting positivity and a sense of awareness is a great way to promote mindfulness. How? Keep a gratitude journal Make daily or weekly to-do lists Use positive affirmations Give out compliments Listen to positive podcasts and music Indulge in hobbies that make you happy MINDFULNESS AND MEDITATION ARE GREAT WAYS TO MAINTAIN THE PEACE IN TIMES OF CHAOS. REMEMBER THAT WE ARE ALWAYS HERE FOR YOU; USE THIS GUIDE TO BE THERE FOR YOURSELF, AS WELL! We love hearing from our #paradoxcommunity, so be sure to let us know your favorite mindfulness tips in the comments below. For beauty tips, skincare products, and more content like this, follow us on Instagram and Pinterest. Be sure to check out our articles “The Uncleanse: The Importance of Getting Enough Nutrients” (here) and “Things These Successful Women Do Before 10 AM” (here). Stay safe and take care of your mental health!
