Mindfulness has been a bit of a buzzword over the last couple of years. It suggests that we should all be aware of who and what we are, and try to focus on the present moment instead of always worrying about what has happened in in the past, or what might happen in the future.
One way of improving our mindfulness is to use all our senses. Be aware of the sights, smells and sounds around you. This helps anchor you in the ‘here and now’, thinking of the present location and the present situation.
If you have a problem worrying you, try to go outside for a (short) walk, to increase the sensations you can observe and the stimulation you receive from the environment. With luck, while you stay in your ‘here and now’, your subconscious will process your problem – so you kill two birds with one stone.
After a couple of weeks of this ‘active sensing’, reflect on whether it has helped. Do you feel different, less stressed, more relaxed, more productive?