Mindfulness to help you through the day to day...

Day to day tasks can be the bane of everyday life - but with small mindful techniques, they can become moments for reflection and peace. Mindfulness has been proven to help reduce stress, so why not incorporate it into daily chores too?

Research has shown that ‘mindfulness may reduce anxiety and depression, boost your immune system, help you manage pain, allow you to unhook from unhealthy habits and addictions, soothe insomnia, reduce high blood pressure, and even change the structure and function of your brain in positive ways.' So, how can we practice mindfulness everyday?

• Reward yourself when completing a task - whether you enjoy your favourite beverage, go for a scenic walk or check instagram, rewarding yourself for solid focus can be a great way to improve engagement and make chores a little more bearable!

• List 5 things you’re grateful for - if something feels completely tedious, look at it simply as an opportunity for self reflection. Whether it’s hoovering, washing up, or a spring clean, take this time to think of 5 things in you’re life you are grateful for, rather than the task at hand.

• Create a positive stance - washing up feel overly slow? Remind yourself that having warm water and soap is something to be thankful for! Chores feel less painful when we remember how fortunate we are to have these things in our life.

• What could help someone else? When you’re struggling to be productive, thinking of something you can do for a loved one is a great way to boost your mood and spread a little kindness.

• List the things you want to achieve - tasks and admin activities can often feel overwhelming, so by creating a list of the thing you want to achieve within a time frame, you are able to delegate your time more effectively and feel more productive!

• Note your sensations - how often do we go about doing the washing up, without taking in everything fully? How warm is the water on your hands? What is the smell of the soap? What can you hear around you? Taking a moment to observe your surroundings more wholly can create a greater sense of calm.

So, whilst there is no disputing that household chores and life admin will never be on the top of our to do list - using these times to take a moment for reflection and self care can be a wonderful way to make mundane tasks a little less so.