This week the world celebrated Mindfulness Day and we wanted to take  a moment to talk about the ways mindfulness can help us manage our busy minds.

In a fast-paced world, we often find ourselves focusing on the past or planning for the future. However, between grocery lists, Zoom meetings, or family commitments, we rarely take the time to connect with ourselves, in the present moment.

Mindfulness, which comes from ancient Eastern traditions, most commonly, Buddhist philosophy, has recently gained popularity in the West for its umpteen benefits including reducing stress and improving our mood and behavior. iOS users may have even noticed dedicated mindful notifications, to remind us to “take a moment” during our busy days.

What is Mindfulness?

Researchers have shared multiple definitions of mindfulness, but in a nutshell:

Mindfulness is being intentionally aware of our present surroundings, our bodies, and our minds, moment-by-moment, and accepting the experience without judgment.

Let’s talk about how we can introduce mindfulness into our daily lives:

This can be done in two ways; one involves a more structured and formal approach by planning a time to perform mindful activities, such as meditation, breathing exercises, yoga, or body scans.

Another way, considered informal mindfulness, is when you focus on the day-to-day activities outside of meditation, like eating, washing dishes, folding clothes, driving, or brushing your teeth.

The key aspects of mindfulness practice

The key aspects of mindfulness work together and are at the core of mindfulness practices and activities. These are:

• Present Moment Awareness: The ability to immerse yourself in the present moment and focus on the here and now.
• Intentional Focus: Bring your focus back to a meditation anchor, such as your breathing or an object, to avoid distractions.
• Observing Without Judgement:  Being curious about your emotions and thoughts and not evaluating them as something they are not.
• Body & Breath Awareness: Using your breath to help focus on the present and noticing any tension, relaxation and comfort or discomfort in different parts of your body.
• Self-Reflection: Exploring your inner thoughts, emotions, and actions to understand yourself on a deeper level and feel compassion and patience towards yourself.
• Gratitude: Allowing yourself to recognise the positivity in your life, and managing challenges with grace and acceptance.

The benefits of mindfulness

There has been a lot of curiosity and research around mindfulness and the many benefits that have been found with the simple practices it involves, like:

• Reduced stress and anxiety
• Improved cognitive ability
• Better pain management
• Enhanced sense of well-being
• Slower brain aging

How to practice mindfulness for beginners

If you are interested in adding mindful activities to your daily routine, then reaching out to people with the proper knowledge is the best place to start.

On Ovvio, you can find various people from around the world, with the skills and knowledge, to help you practice mindfulness in a way that is right for you and your lifestyle.

For example, you can request a session on Ovvio with a Giver you choose, based on their profile and skills, and connect over video or voice call for interactive and visual support to start your mindfulness journey.

Think of it as a virtual guided meditation, where someone else’s voice can help you focus your attention on the present as you find your mind starts to wander.

Talking about people with mindfulness skills…

Ovvio is for you too. If you feel confident about your mindfulness knowledge and experience, you can share it over sessions with Seekers looking for your skills.

Becoming a Giver on Ovvio is the perfect safe place to connect with others and help them find answers and solutions to their problems.

Ovvio offers both paid and free sessions and you have the flexibility to choose your own rate so you can earn or share in a way that suits you.

Starting your mindfulness journey with Ovvio

Consistency is key to developing and maintaining a routine that involves mindfulness so the right advice can ensure you start off on the right path.

Head to Ovvio to create your account and start your mindfulness journey instantly!

You can create a Seeker profile to seek advice about mindfulness or create a Giver profile to share your knowledge about mindful practices and activities. But it doesn’t have to stop there! On Ovvio there are 100+ categories to seek advice or share advice in.

Sign up today to explore our trending categories, exciting features, and more at Ovvio!