Tuesday, March 19, 2024
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Dailey Bailey: Four Ways Mindfulness Can Improve Your Life

The “mindful meditation” trend has taken off recently, but most people still don’t really understand what mindfulness means. Basically, it’s about being more aware of how you feel and act in the moment, so you don’t just react without thinking.

And you don’t have to sit on the floor with your legs crossed to do it. Just focusing on your breathing for a few seconds can help you relax. Or there are apps like one called Headspace to get you started. Here are four benefits of mindfulness that are all backed by science . . .

1. It helps you focus and think differently. Studies have found it lengthens your attention span and improves cognitive flexibility. Meaning it’s easier for you to think outside the box.

2. It can help your relationship. Couples who practice mindfulness tend to communicate better, get in fewer fights, and have a healthier relationship in general.

3. It can affect your health. It’s been shown to lower blood pressure, help with chronic pain, and even boost your immune system. And it can also improve mental health.

4. It makes stressful things less stressful. That’s because it helps you focus on the present instead of stressing out about stuff that happened in the past, or MIGHT happen in the future. And it’s also been shown to make you less critical of yourself when you mess something up.

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