Running here, running there, preparing for this deadline, remembering to eat, and so much more occupies our minds and turns into stress which leads to poor health and poor performance. We all need to take a minute to relax and there are definitely more ways than just meditating! The fundamental component to finding mental peace is mindfulness.
 (source) | Some stress relief methods include going outside, taking a walk, reading a book, exercise, and so many others. Trust me, I think I've tried them all. I found that I couldn't sit still, I had to do something else, and I felt like I was wasting time. I took a marketing class last year that really changed my outlook on how people think and the theme was "mindfulness". I realized that the problem wasn't the activity, the problem was me. Mindfulness is to be active and attentive to the present. You are involved in your current activities, but you don't judge your feelings or situations as good or bad. The goal is to simply be grateful for the present. By taking the concept of mindfulness into consideration, I realized that what really helps me de-stress is being present and active in the moment - a near impossible task for anyone juggling many responsibilities. If your current method of stress relief works for you, I encourage you to keep doing it, but mindfulness can take it to the next level. Now, when I go out to unwind, whether it's to a concert or on a run, I press myself to stay present in what I'm doing. This becomes a habit and can reach other aspects of your life! A great article in getting started is The Art of Now by Jay Dixit. Let us know what you think and how you get more in touch with the now! |
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