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There are two cornerstones to mindfulness,’ according to Monash University’s Craig Hassed.
The formal practice of it through meditation, and the informal practice of it by being present and attentive in your day-to-day life.
Here’s how to be successfully mindful…
1. Stay patient
Becoming mindful is not hard to do the first few times, but rewiring healthy habits requires practice. ‘Like any new way of doing things, it takes patience because the habit of not being mindful – of letting your mind go wherever it chooses – is second nature,’ says Kellie Edwards from Mindfulness 4 Mothers.
2. Start your day with a five-minute meditation
Sit in a chair, close your eyes and do nothing but pay attention to the inside of your body – what it’s doing and how it feels. Focus on your heartbeat, then move your attention up from the soles of your feet, through your legs, stomach, back, neck and all
the aspects of your face (eyes, nose, forehead, etc…). Then pay attention to your breathing.
‘This is like a gym workout for your mind,’ Craig says.
After a few days, increase the meditation to 10 minutes, then to 20 – or do two sessions of 10 minutes, twice a day.
Find out the rest of the five tips in this week’s issue of New Idea…
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