Do you ever just stop and take a moment?

Are you busy rushing from A to B trying to get everything done?  Or do you make that space in your day to just take a moment? Do you find yourself during those awkward situations, where someone says something you don’t agree with, just blurting out your thoughts or do you take a moment and pause before you respond?

Sometimes you simply need to take a minute, a quick mind break in your chaotic day to just realign and breathe.

But what can we do to take a moment?

We all need to take  time out to have a break, whether that be getting out for a walk in nature, reading a book, a trip to the spa or a soak in the bath.  But did you know there are massive benefits to bringing mindfulness into your everyday life.

But what is mindfulness?

Simply put it is the act of taking an opportunity to pay attention to this moment.  Mindfulness is practised by millions of people around the world.  But for many there is a mystery created around mindfulness that is not needed, it isn’t a New Age promise of eternal happiness, it’s not complicated, involved or confusing.  Just pay attention and be with what is.  It’s that simple!

The positive effects of mindfulness are seen and felt the moment you engage with it, and it can be done in as little as 30 seconds.  There is no need to take hours out of your day or to create an elaborate practice.  Stop for 30 seconds and accept where you are in this moment and give yourself the permission to realign and readjust your day.  You will notice that your mood is lighter, you may not react to situations so harshly or quickly and you begin to see the world differently, giving you a spring in your step.  In as little as 30 seconds you really can create mindfulness.

Practising mindfulness can improve your cognitive ability, as well as having proven benefits to your emotional, physical and psychological health and is known to reduce anxiety.  Extensive research has shown that people who take time out of their day to connect and be mindful, improve their concentration and ability to retain information.  When we practice mindfulness daily the repetition activates and improves the efficiency of the brain, helping us to better extract what is important and retain important information and facts, which is useful and needed in our world of information overload.

Placing a candle in your work or living space can act as a tangible reminder to stop and take a moment to bring mindfulness into your day, alongside all the other benefits of having them around you.

Remember in a world where you can connect with anything, make sure to take a moment to connect with yourself.