Stressed from the chaos of your everyday life? Slow down and try to practice mindfulness, or living in the moment. After just spending the weekend in Door County with its majestic landscape of fall colors, I was able to disconnect from the stress of life and just be in the moment. How often do we just rush through our day, without stopping to really notice the world around us or our inner feelings? Sure this was easy to do in such a beautiful place with the brilliance of nature literally right beyond my balcony. But if we slow down every day and engage our minds and eyes in the present moment, we may just see things in a different perspective and experience calm. On your frenzied drive to the office, have you ever paused to marvel at the sunrise or really looked at the canopy of trees with their brilliant colors and leaves now blanketing the ground? It can help you forget that jerk you just cut you off or not think about the day you face ahead with your mounting list of tasks to get done. Try it sometime and see if it changes your perspective and brings you calm, even if just for a few moments!
Research has shown the positive effects of the practice of mindfulness. Studies show better quality of sleep, increased focus and productivity, improved mood, better weight management and lower rates of obesity. A study conducted at Brown University published last week revealed mindfulness' health benefit, particularly on cardiac health. Results showed an 83% improvement in markers of heart health when mindfulness was practiced. Employers like General Mills and Google have implemented mindfulness programs for their employees trying to capitalize on job satisfaction and productivity of its workers. The United States Marines has also implemented mindfulness programming for its personnel.
So instead of being stressed today, take some deep breaths, take in the world around you, and just be!
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