Learning How Mindfulness Can Help as we Age
You may have heard of mindfulness through friends, social media, or the news. Although it may sound like a simple idea, the effort it takes to practice mindfulness can be challenging but very rewarding. The benefits of mindfulness and the long-term effects show a decrease in stress and anxiety and the development of an overall improved outlook on life. As we get older, priorities begin to shift and goals in life become focused on the emotional/present-time moments we have in our lives.
Mindfulness is for everyone and can be learned at any time. When we can make an effort to practice mindfulness in life, we can begin to see our minds expand and feel a sense of peace, calm, and strength in our emotional and mental capabilities.
The definition of mindfulness is “having focused attention combined with non-judgmental observation of our inner and outer experiences.” Some may ask, “what does that mean? And how do you even do that?” We as humans tend to focus on many negative things in life whether that be how we see ourselves, others, or the world around us. The practice of mindfulness means being in the moment with what is happening without taking any kind of judgment on yourself and the world around you. We begin to look at the emotions, feelings, and acceptance and allow ourselves to experience them without criticizing.
As we age, we see a shift in things as we do with any other stage in our life. When we approach our 40s and 50s, our view of life may begin to be seen as limited because of goals, people, and many other circumstances. Mindfulness is a concept that can be utilized within many different areas of our lives. To be able to keep our cognitive abilities from deteriorating faster than they may, we can begin to introduce mindfulness to maintain better emotional well-being and focus. When we begin to use mindfulness, even for as little as 5 minutes a day, we can begin to see improvements.
There are many ways to practice mindfulness. Some ways to begin could be to take a class or workshop with an instructor where you can be introduced and have support from others who are also in the same class. If that isn’t accessible to you, there are also apps and online resources to utilize. Utilizing mindfulness doesn’t have to be a daunting task; it's as easy as taking 5 minutes in between work, school, etc. and being with yourself engaging your 5 senses, breathing, and noticing. This is the most simple way to be in the present moment and recognize what you may be needing at that time. Going through a busy day can feel like you have no moment to yourself. Using mindfulness doesn't take much time in your day, and the benefits show a decrease in stress and anxiety and an increase in the ability to experience further happiness and resilience.
Take a moment right now to have a deep breath, notice how you feel, and then ask yourself what you need?... This is Mindfulness.
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