The stresses of our everyday lives can take a real toll on our bodies and minds. When it’s all go go go, finding a minute to stop and breathe can be difficult.
These stresses can manifest in anxiety and other mental health problems. They can fast become physical problems too. One of the best ways to combat these issues is to start practicing mindfulness.
You may be thinking ‘why is mindfulness important?’. You might even think it’s a myth and doesn’t actually work. But it does, and there are many health benefits to it.
Read on for 6 reasons why mindfulness is important for your physical and mental health.
Understanding Mindfulness
Before we get into these reasons, let’s give a quick explanation of what mindfulness is. It’s like meditation, but the two aren’t always exclusive.
Mindfulness can take place anywhere at any time. You find a moment to take a few deep breaths and pay your breathing special attention. Focus on the physical sensation of breathing. Become aware of your surroundings. The smells, sounds, and feelings all around you.
It helps bring you into the present moment and stop worrying about everything going on. It can be particularly helpful on a busy workday or in stressful situations. You can do it anywhere and at any time. Sit at your work desk or practice in the car before you make your daily commute. The best thing about it is that it only takes a few minutes to feel the benefits.
1. It Reduces Stress
Each day brings its own set of stresses. Did you remember to bring that work report? Do the kids have everything they need for school? Are you going to be late for that meeting?
These negative thoughts can trigger the stress hormone cortisol into your body. This can have a lot of negative effects which can ruin your day. It can cause sleeping difficulties and promote feelings of depression and anxiety.
Practicing mindfulness for as little as 10 minutes each day can reduce these effects. It helps bring you into a calmer state of mind where you don’t focus on the negative, only the positive.
2. It Helps to Manage Anxiety
Those who suffer from anxiety know that it manifests in physical ways as well as mental. Nausea, sweating, headaches, fatigue. They all bring you down and make you feel miserable.
Mindfulness can help reduce these symptoms and help you manage your anxiety. A 2013 study tested the effects of mindfulness on anxiety sufferers. The study found that mindfulness therapy contributed to a significant reduction in anxiety.
Mindfulness can help you feel better about yourself. The better you feel about yourself can help reduce the frequency of anxiety bouts. It can help you feel more confident and able to handle situations which would make you anxious.
3. It Improves Your Immune Function
Your immune system is what keeps you healthy and wards off any harmful germs which could make you sick.
The best ways to maintain healthy immune function are to get regular exercise and to eat well. But practicing mindfulness is also proven to improve your immune function.
A 2003 study found that mindfulness leads to a strong immune response after they were given a flu jab.
4. It Makes You Happier
The world can be a troubling place sometimes and it can be easy to feel lost in it. But practicing mindfulness for as little as 2 minutes each day can help you feel much happier.
Mindful meditation increases activity in the left side of the pre-frontal cortex. This area of the brain handles positive emotions and helps decrease negative emotions.
This means you’ll be happier for longer and enjoy more experiences stress-free.
5. It Improves Your Sleep
Getting a good night of sleep helps keep you healthy and focused. So, when you struggle to fall asleep, it damages your physical and mental health.
If falling asleep is getting more difficult, mindfulness could benefit you. Mindfulness has proven to improve sleep quality and helps you feel more rested to tackle the day. It can also help you to wake up feeling more positive and reduce negative thinking.
6. It Helps to Increase Body Satisfaction
Each day we see so many reasons to hate our bodies. Social media stars showing off their ‘perfect’ bodies. Billboards selling products to make us thinner or build more muscle. It’s easy for the media to make us feel dissatisfied with our bodies.
For men and women alike, we all suffer from self-image issues. But mindfulness is a great way to get on the path to self-acceptance. Practicing mindfulness has proven to help with body image issues. It helps to reduce body dissatisfaction and help self-worth in those who struggle with it.
Women who took part in this study continued to feel the benefits 3 months after it ended.
Why Is Mindfulness Important: Now You Know
Did you ever wonder why is mindfulness important? Well, now you have the facts to prove that it does work!
Your physical and mental health are as important to each other. To keep yourself feeling healthy and happy, you should be doing everything you can. Mindfulness is a great way to feel happier and healthier. Next time you feel stressed or anxious, give mindfulness a try. It will surprise you with how effective it is.
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