Mindfulness is the practice of directing one’s attention to the present without judgment. If you’ve ever tried meditation and gotten distracted then mindfulness is for you. It doesn’t require you to sit on the floor and hum. It can be a part of your hectic schedule without the 30 minute time commitment.

How to be Mindful

Live in the Now

• Meditate
• Read
• Unplug
• Lay down
• Eat

Achieving Successful Mindful Practices

• There is no such thing as failure when it comes to mindfulness
• The more often you actively practice being mindful the easier it becomes
• Takes 20 days to establish a habit

Exercises to Practice Mindfulness

Name: Open Space

How to:

1. Close your eyes '

2. Breathe deeply

3. Then envision an empty space

4. Picture your favorite color

5. Picture your favorite color as an aura that fills the space

6. Picture it filling only small parts of the space then more and more of the space over time

7. If you did this with a partner I suggest sharing your favorite colors and describe how those colors manifested your open space

Name: First Taste

How to:

1. Obtain a food item. I sugest a cookie or a single piece of candy

2. Hold the food item in your hand,observe the texture with your eyes closed

3. Keeping your eyes closed sniff the food item with your eyes closed, as if experiencing it for the first time
4. Then taste the item, slowly, and still as if for the first time

5. If you did this with a share how it tasted what was different about the experience of the cookie now that they have examined the cookie

Name: Meditation

How to:

1. Place your feet firmly on the floor

2. Breathe and relax

3. Think of nothing in particular

4.Focus on your breathing

5. If you find it difficult concentrate use guided meditation applications or videos for assistance.