A Quick and Easy Way to Use Mindfulness for Anxiety

I admit, I like to have a plan. Knowing what's going to happen next helps me feel like I'm in control of my life. Of course, this doesn't always work out. Plans change, fall through, or simply aren't possible much of the time--and that's when anxiety can rock my world. Having a mindfulness practice is really helping me these days. Mindfulness simply brings attention to the present moment without judgement, creating a micro-suspension in time where plans are irrelevant because all that exists is the here and now. When I'm truly in the moment, my anxiety fades away. The challenge is finding a way to get there amidst the fast-paced events of my day and swirling thoughts in my head. The most common mindfulness method of bringing attention to the present moment is focus on the breath. This is what most people think of as traditional meditation, and it doesn't only work while sitting quietly in lotus pose. You can practice mindfulness breathing at any time, under any circumstances--while stuck in traffic or waiting in line, for example. However, anxiety can be hard to reign in, and focusing on my breath doesn't always work for me. Something that is working for me lately is bringing my attention to my five senses. As a writer and an introvert who processes information a lot in my head, I can tend to get so wrapped up in my thoughts that I don't even notice what's happening with my body. Pausing to intentionally hone in on each of my senses gives me an opportunity to conne...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news