Millennials and Gen Z are the first generations to have greater access to information and resources regarding mindfulness partially through increased research and advancements in psychology, but access has been widely made through social media and trends as well.
Mindfulness is the practice of bringing awareness to your mind, body, emotions, relationships and habits. It is like deciding to stop living on autopilot and become more responsible for your reactions and actions.
You can practice mindfulness in many ways from just taking time to think to actively practicing it through various activities. If you are looking for a new way to incorporate mindfulness into your routine, check out one of these trends that have proven to be successful.
Mindful Eating
Mindful eating has emerged as a wellness trend for mindfulness and also nutrition. It has many origins, but it is mostly rooted in the idea that you listen to your body when it comes to food.
It begins with eating what sounds good, looking at the fridge and deciding yes, or no, when it comes to your options. Then when eating, take bites and be mindful about how full you are or aren't.
In a nutshell, it is paying attention to how full you are, eating when you are hungry, and eating what sounds good to you. Bottom line, if you want the cookie, eat it. The restriction is not a part of mindful eating, it is the opposite, letting yourself have what you want while also not overeating to feel uncomfortable.
Don't think of mindful eating as a diet, because it isn't about what you eat it is how you eat.
Sleep Products
A study found that 70 percent of Americans are sleep insufficient, there are many reasons that people struggle to sleep but a leading one according to the study is anxiety.
Therefore, a mindfulness trend emerging to help people out is products pertaining to sleep that help promote better habits. Most people these days wear a smartwatch, which helps them track sleep patterns. More and more products similar are surfacing to aid with sleep, which then informs people to change up their habits.
The more people understand sleep as an essential aspect of health, the more motivated they are to include it in their personal wellness plans.
Gratitude Journaling
Gratitude means being thankful for what you have, but many people don't think about what it can be applied to. A person can be grateful for the good things, and even what they learn from the hard things in life too.
When people practice gratitude regularly, it helps them to have a bank of happy ideas they can rely on so that even when bad things do happen, it is easier to bounce back from these moments.
One way people can make gratitude a habit is by journaling about it every day. Write down 3 things you are grateful for in the morning, and reflect again at night. If you can keep up the habit, you will see an increased boost in happiness over time.
Digital Therapy
Therapy is going online, which is helping people connect with mental health specialists from their digital devices around the world. In one way, having an in-person interaction is important, but a typical barrier to care is being able to physically get to a therapy session.
If you can contact a mental health specialist via your mobile device, and when you need help, it creates better access to mental health services. Through the rise of apps and mental healthcare provider networks, digital therapy is becoming more and more popular to in person.
At-Home Mini Workouts
Mindfulness isn't just about your mental health or state, it also refers to bringing awareness to how your body feels. Mini-workouts are very useful for building mindfulness around moving your body because you may feel like being active, but not be in the mood for a jarring workout or going to the gym.
Being able to access quick workouts from the comfort of your home allows you to make exercise an accessible habit, and something that you can enjoy. If a long and difficult workout doesn't sound appealing, do something quick and easy to listen to your body, what it can do for you today, and enjoy your workout.
Intentional & Meaningful Connections
Today in age, people are looking for intentional and meaningful connections, meaning friendships that are built on health practices. That means folks are more likely to stop hanging out with others who don't make them feel good, even if they have been friends for a long time. And they will go looking for friends who are on the same page about making meaningful and mutual connections.
These are all ways to bring more mindfulness to your friendships and wellness in order to live well and with intention.
