Pay attention to 'the present'. It's crucial to everybody's wellbeing!

Paying more attention to the present moment can improve your mental wellbeing. This includes your thoughts and feelings, your body and the world around you. Some people call this awareness "mindfulness". Mindfulness can help you enjoy life more and understand yourself better. It can positively change the way you feel about life and how you approach challenges. 

So, what is 'mindfulness'?

 

So how can we become more, 'mindful'?

Reminding yourself to take notice of your thoughts, feelings, body sensations and the world around you is the first step to mindfulness...

 

Notice, 'the everyday'

"Even as we go about our daily lives, we can notice the sensations of things, the food we eat, the air moving past the body as we walk," says Professor Williams. "All this may sound very small, but it has huge power to interrupt the 'autopilot' mode we often engage day to day, and to give us new perspectives on life."

 

Keep it regular - the importance of routine

It can be helpful to pick a regular time – the morning journey to school orwork or a walk at lunchtime – during which you decide to be aware of the sensations created by the world around you. Share your observations of the world around you with your children.

 

Try something new

Trying new things, such as cooking a different meal or going somewhere new for a walk, can also help you notice the world in a new way. Change is good for the body and soul, it opens up the mind to new experiences. Give it a go!

 

Watch your thoughts!

Modern day life is busy and hectic. It is very easy to let our thoughts run away with us. We can not stop these thoughts flooding our minds, but we can make a consious effort to limit the impact they have on our mental health. Over time, yoga, exercise and positive realtionships will all help with an over busy mind.

 

Emotional literacy - naming our thoughts and feelings

You are never too young to explore and understand your thoughts and feelings. Developing our emotional literacy is crucial to fostering healthy realtionships. In the EYFS, this journey begins with be able to name our emotions. By the end of primary school we hope that all children have strategies to be able to understand and respond to their emotions.