No matter what the weather, anxiety can always creep up on you. Summer is the time to have fun, unwind, and let loose, but if you get that familiar tightening sensation in your chest, practicing mindfulness and mindful meditation are your best bets toward restoring your mood back to beach mode.
Mindfulness FAQs
What is mindfulness?
Mindfulness relates to your mind’s innate ability to be in the present moment without any distraction or judgment.
What isn’t mindfulness?
Some people think that mindfulness requires the mind to be totally blank within the present moment, which is inaccurate. Being present in the moment requires the mind to be consciously active so it can have an experience, instead of being blank and absent.
What is mindfulness used for?
Mindfulness techniques are extremely helpful when it comes to dealing with stress and symptoms of stress like binge-eating, anxiety, and aggression.
How can being mindful help me in my life?
Mindfulness helps us develop our thinking patterns in a way that establishes a better understanding of our choices and the driving force behind them. This can lead you to make healthier choices, reduce stress, and achieve success.
6 Mindfulness Tools to Unwind and Beat the Heat
Not sure how to unwind the smart way? Here are some pro tips for experiencing summer to its fullest while nourishing your mind and soul:
1. Unwind by Appreciating Nature’s Beauty
It’s summer, so while you can, spend as much time as possible outside and in tranquil, natural environments. A great idea is to meditate outside in nature and to physically and emotionally experience all the sensory gifts nature has to offer.
Smell flowers as you walk past them and savor the moment. Look up at the sky and feel the immense presence of the universe. Feel that deep sense of inner peace that just melts away any anxiety and worries.
2. Fill up With Fresh Superfoods
Summer is not only for sundowners and cocktails but also for super-fresh superfoods that nourish body and soul.
There is an abundance of superfoods, especially fruits, that you can incorporate into your summer diet while getting all the benefits from their vitamins, antioxidants, and other essential nutrients.
Stay cool and fresh by snacking on kiwi, cranberries, watermelon, strawberries, and blueberries. You can even make yourself a superfood smoothie to kickstart your day and savor every sip as you relax in the moment of self-nourishment.
3. Focus on Staying Hydrated
This one goes without saying, but water does so much good for our bodies that, when we are dehydrated, it can contribute to us feeling stressed.
Infuse your water with delicious flavors by adding cucumber, fresh mint, lemon, and raspberries, and be aware of how you are replacing every drop the heat takes from your body.
4. Do a Morning Stretch and Focus on Your Breathing
Start your day the right way by being mindful from the get-go. Lay out your yoga mat or go outside where there’s a soft spot of grass and, for a moment, feel what it feels like to really be inside your body.
Stretch every part of your body and experience it waking up while you stretch. You can do any stretching movements that feel comfortable to you. Focus on taking deep breaths and feeling how alive your body is while you flex and twist yourself gently.
5. Become a Sketch Artist (If You’re Not Already One)
Release tensions and get caught up in a moment of inner creative genius by purchasing a sketch pad and your choice of artistic medium. You can go for pencil sketching or you can try ink or even charcoal if you don’t mind things getting a bit messy.
Sit in a comfortable space and let your hand move across the paper while it’s being autonomously guided by your mind. Experience every movement and see the beauty in the abstract shapes you’re creating on the paper.
6. Express Gratitude Toward Natures
Take a few minutes every day and remind yourself why summer is so special to you and why you are grateful for this beautiful time of year.
What makes summer beautiful? What makes you beautiful? What does summer offer you that enhances your life?
Say thank you to Mother Nature for this prosperous season filled with growth, and take a moment to unwind and enjoy your surroundings.
Final Thoughts
Mindfulness is definitely customizable to the season of summer to help get you in that meditative mood and to reduce anxiety.
As with everything related to mindfulness, practicing it with your gaze fixated on this beautiful season will only cause you to experience more peace, gratitude, and happiness as you live in each moment of every balmy day. Take a deep breath. Forget about anxiety.
Have a happy, mindful summer!
