LAST time I wrote about how beneficial being outside can be for our wellbeing.

Today I’m going to talk about mindfulness. Now I’m not a Zen Buddhist, or a mindfulness master, far from it,

But I am learning the benefits of being mindful. Have you ever driven somewhere on auto pilot and arrived at a destination with no idea or focus of how the journey was?

Or maybe you’ve eaten a meal in front of the TV and only noticed your empty plate. Being mindful allows us to be present. To notice the little things, that we would otherwise miss. Joyfully while doing this our brains are less likely to think about unpaid bills or the washing up you have left. So, if you have never had a go at mindfulness try this; go and look out of a window and just spend literally one minute, seeing what you can notice.

A sparrow, children playing, someone mowing, people driving past.

What can you see or hear out of your window or on a walk?

Notice the colours you can see, the noises you can hear and things you may be able to smell.

Practise this at a few times a day if you can and in being more present, more mindful it WILL improve your wellbeing.

I used to be a huge critic of mindfulness but with reading, practice, and a bit more practice I’m finding ways to be more present in life rather than let it all whizz by. It has taken me a fair few years to get to this point so don’t expect miracles! Elkhart Toll, a renowned spiritual teacher and best-selling author, said: “Wherever you are, be there totally” and that in a nutshell is what being mindful means.

So, as you go about your week, whatever you are doing, try a mini-mindfulness session, nobody needs to know, just do it and with time and practice you will be getting the most out of your life.

Clare Knighton

Clare Knighton

ClareKnighton is a local resident, loves Worcester and works in mental health. You can follow her on Twitter @knightonstar