Being mindful is being observant. By inviting us to inwardly slow down and notice what surrounds us, being mindful soothes anxiety and helps us become more adept at facing reality with real problem-solving. Being mindful is not a separate activity that we must carve time for. A simple way to be mindful is to be present while doing whatever we do. For me it is easiest to be mindful when I pay attention to the five senses. Using the body as a filter for our experience is a beautiful, interactive and simple way to be mindful in everyday life. Listening: a Simple Way to Be Mindful A very wise friend told me, “Notice how you can’t think and listen at the same time.” That really was a game-changer for me. If my mind is consumed by worry and fretting, I try to remember to simply listen. We are usually surrounded by some kind of noise that we just blank out of our perception because we are busy focusing on our thoughts. Connecting to something outside of ourselves is a superb way to ease anxie...

One of the main reasons for lack of self-care is that we feel we don’t have the time and it will distract us from other important things, take us away from priorities. For that reason, I love cultivating ways to self-care that can be completely integrated on those busy days. Let’s face it, it’s on those busy days that we need the most TLC! There are many effective things we can do for ourselves without having to take a big chunk out of our day. Read on to find out more Square Breathing I discovered this one recently and really love it: inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds, exhale for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds, repeat. You can do that for 20 seconds or 5 minutes. It completely resets things and calms down the brain, helping it to get out of rumination and anxious cycles. You can also pick a different duration for your square breathing, like 5 or 6 seconds. I love how completely adaptable and practical it is, and it works very quickly. Movement If you work on your computer all da...