10 Mindfulness Tips & Techniques

There are many ways to bring mindfulness into a person’s life and these tips help provide some ideas:

1. Create a Mindful Corner for home, work or school that can include: Mindful Glitter Jar, Chime, Coloring, Hoberman Sphere, music (rain sticks and drums), heavy blankets (for weight), eye masks, essential oils, etc.
2. Download a mindfulness app such as Insight Timer, Headspace, Calm
3. Create a bed-time routine
   1. Turn off screens one hour before bed
   2. Use a hot water bottle or weighted blanket to calm the nervous system
   3. Align day with the circadian rhythms
   4. Use an essential oil diffuser to hydrate the air
4. Take 1-minute brain-breaks throughout the day
5. Manage energy, not time.
6. Enjoy restorative practices at George Wellbeing such as massage/bodywork, singing bowl meditation, acupuncture, hydromassage and more
7. Attend a Y Wellness Retreat and experience the splendor of the natural environment of camp through holistic wellbeing programming and individualized exploration. https://www.ymcamn.org/croixyoga, https://www.ymcamn.org/ihduhapiyoga and https://www.ymcamn.org/foreverwellretreat
8. Eat mindfully at meal time by sitting down, chewing the food slowly and enjoying the sight, smell, texture and taste of the food.
9. Take a mindful walk in nature and pay attention to the sights, sounds and smells of being in the great outdoors in fresh air.
10. Participate in a yoga class where you will focus on breathing.

Written by: The YMCA Twin Cities