Why is Mindfulness Important?

Mindfulness is a very common word used today. Some may even say it is a buzz word, a phase or a current fad. This is incorrect because mindfulness has actually been around for centuries, it’s just taken a while for the practice to become the forefront of today’s society. There are many great reasons why mindfulness is now such a well-known word and is growing in popularity!

Practising mindfulness has so many benefits for your mental health and general wellbeing. Once you learn these benefits, you’ll be asking yourself why you haven’t been practising all day, every day!

The benefits of mindfulness, based on 40 years of evidence-based research and ten years of neuroscience, include:

  • The pre-frontal cortex, the region of the brain responsible for problem solving, planning, memory, emotional regulation, decision making and attention, becomes become more active and grows

  • Reduces stress and anxiety which in turn reduces the risk of illness and disease

  • Prevents depression and reducing symptoms of depression

  • Increases the stress threshold and improving resilience

  • Improves memory

  • Increases positive thinking, feelings and emotions

  • Promotes overall wellbeing

  • Improves attention and concentration

 

Let’s face it, these benefits can be life changing. Reduced worries and anxieties – imagine a life where you can effectively minimise stress! Or improve your concentration and memory - wouldn’t we all like to be better able to focus on the task as hand! 

 

But be warned, you can’t just go to one mindfulness session or yoga class and have your life changed. Mindfulness isn’t a one-time fix, it needs to be practiced daily and regularly. Making mindfulness a habit is key to being able to reap the rewards!

 

So how do you start to make mindfulness a habit? Well, my friend, you are already in the right place. You’re reading this article wanting the further your knowledge. The next step is to practice a range of mindfulness activities on a daily basis – the more you do practice, the more a habit is instilled. Now where do you find mindfulness activities, I hear you ask? 

 

We, Head and Heart Mindfulness, create a range of free and paid resources that you can easily access. You may like to download our free breathing or gratitude cards; you may wish to sign up to our online course; or you may be interested in our newest resource - our mindfulness workbooks for kids and women filled with 30 days of mindfulness activities!

 

Now that you know why of mindfulness is such an important skill to develop, click the SHOP link below to learn HOW we can help you to implement mindfulness into your life!

 

Kylie Humphreys