Wellness Wednesday: Reducing Stress Through Mindfulness

There have been multiple times in the last few years when we’ve found ourselves getting anxious about a variety of different things. It feels like nearly everything from simple to-do lists to major life changes can bring on that “anxious” feeling, increasing our heart rates and causing our minds to spin. These feelings fall under something called our “fight or flight” response.  

Experts have found that our bodies’ “fight or flight” response is most often a result of us focusing more on what is in the future or the past, rather than wherever we are in the present moment. We often get caught up in hypotheticals and miss what is real and right in front of us! Mindfulness is the practice of non-judgmentally being aware and present in the moment. You can utilize this practice for a few seconds or a few minutes depending on what you need.  

Here are a few simple ways to start practicing mindfulness: 

Grounding

Grounding is a practice that helps us to bring our thoughts back to the present moment by deliberately focusing our senses on something happening right now. For example, when I am drinking a cup of coffee, I love to focus on the warmth of holding my favorite mug, how it smells of coffee throughout my kitchen and the taste of my favorite creamer to go with it.

Be purposeful in having positive thoughts

Positive thoughts help keep us grounded in the moment by looking for the things that are going well within our days. To begin practicing this mindset, start asking yourself, “what is going well today?” or, “what am I thankful for?”

Make a to-do list

Make a list of what needs to be done throughout your day and mark it off as you go. Seeing how much you have accomplished in a busy workday can help quiet your mind from worrying about future tasks.

Don’t forget to laugh

Hopefully, you have heard that laughter is the best medicine. Believe it or not, laughing reduces stress by decreasing stress hormones and releasing endorphins (our body’s feel-good chemicals). So, put yourselves in situations to laugh. Go to a comedy show (or watch a comedy special on a streaming service), visit a fun friend or watch a funny movie.

Would you believe that practicing mindfulness can help rewire your brain and its stress response in as little as eight weeks? There is no time like the present to begin this practice, so let’s get started.