Mindfulness means being fully present and aware of your feelings, and it helps improve focus, memory, and emotion control.
We all know the advantages of exercising. Now, picture combining both mindfulness and exercise in your daily routine.
According to a study reported by Real Simple, combining these two activities brings greater benefits than doing either one alone.
The study, led by Masha Remskar, a behavioral scientist and doctoral researcher at the University of Bath, is the first of its kind to show how blending mindfulness and exercise positively impacts health and well-being.
The findings indicate that incorporating both into your routine is most beneficial for mental health, including stress reduction, emotional control, resilience, motivation, and preventing anxiety and depression.
Mindfulness might motivate you to exercise by eliminating negative thoughts and helping you focus on the present instead of worrying about the future.
For instance, some people struggle to start or stick to new fitness routines due to fear of failure. Mindfulness can help overcome this fear, clearing your mind of criticism and self-judgment.
How to add mindfulness to your daily routine?
Practicing mindfulness doesn’t have to be overwhelming. You can incorporate simple mindful breathing exercises whenever you need a boost.
Even everyday activities like brushing your teeth or enjoying a drink can be done more mindfully and intentionally, without distractions.