Being Mindful During Any Activity — An Instructional Guide

Let’s face it…everyone is busy all of the time, especially if you are a parent. So, how can you engage in relaxation amongst all the chaos? Well, let’s talk about it.

We may not have time to engage in meditation every time we are feeling overstimulated (although I highly recommend it for a regular practice on the weekends or when you have some down time). However, in any moment in time, we can engage in mindfulness. This practice has been my saving grace for years now, and I would shout my gratitude for mindfulness from the rooftops if I thought everyone in the world would hear me. This is my, along with other mental health therapists, secret weapon for remaining calm and present in any moment.

So how can you apply this to your daily life? Great question. Let’s get into it.

When you are feeling “frazzled” or overwhelmed, this one simple exercise can calm you instantaneously: think of a limp, wet noodle and imagine your body becoming that noodle. Then, focus on your breathing, allowing your inhale to travel all the way down to your belly button and allowing your exhaled breath to travel across the room. Continue these two exercises simultaneously, and I can guarantee you, you will feel a difference almost instantly. Don’t believe me? Try it now (it only takes one minute). Did you try it?…Told ya.

Let’s talk about the science behind this. When we are in distress, our body will tense up to keep us safe. Tension is our body’s way of protecting your vital organs and acting almost as a shield, similar to how your rib cage protects your lungs. Because our body is tense, we will feel a rush of anxiety, signaling to us that something is wrong (our body is communicating to us that we need to protect ourselves because our body is tense and is sensing a threat). When our bodies are relaxed, then that feeling of overstimulation will melt away, and the anxiety will disappear because our body is no longer sensing a threat. Our body’s function is to do one thing: keep us alive, and that’s exactly what it is doing when we are overstimulated. Note: if you look at your feelings as signals rather than something to run from, you will notice a huge change in the way you respond (not react) to situations.

Now, you’re probably thinking… “She has to promote mindfulness, she’s a therapist.” In full disclosure, I have been practicing mindfulness for several years now. Being a victim of trauma, I was in therapy from the time I was a teenager to early adulthood, and my therapist taught me how to relax my body. I noticed that when I relaxed my body, my mind followed right behind it. This has been my lifesaver for the last 15 years, which is why I know it works. There are statistics and books to tell you why it works, but I am a big proponent of trying something first and then talking about its effectiveness rather than recommending something blindly to my clients. I can assure you that it will change your life if you are committed to practicing it and building upon this skill.

I want to encourage you to give this exercise a try and let me know how it works for you in the comments (your experience with it may motivate someone else who is struggling to try it too).