Top 7 Tips For Mindfulness

Social anxiety is a nightmare and I have tried so many things to cope with it. Believe it or not you are actually reading one of my coping mechanisms. My lovely little blog. Mindfulness has been so useful when managing my social anxiety and I think it's something that is often brushed past and thought of being a "stupid" idea. But honestly it really helps me switch off that anxiety and just concentrate on myself for awhile. 

Here are my 7 Tips For Mindfulness:

1. Colouring - The days of colouring being a purely childish pursuit are over. Adult colouring has taken the world by storm in the past year and now it is something that I personally couldn't cope without. With so many different themes and designs it will be hard not to find something you love. Just take 30 minutes of your day, close the laptop, put the phone on do not disturb and concentrate on the soothing nature of colouring. I always feel so much more relaxed after and my mind feels clear. My personal favourites are shown in the image above. 
2. Journalling - This can be achieved in many forms. Some even like to count their blog (*puts hand up*), you can write diaries, write your blog, even just spend 5 minutes writing the good things that happened in your day. These all count as journalling and it makes you look back and reflect. Great if (like me) you tend to be pessimistic about life and forget about all the good things in order to focus on that one bad thing. 
3. Lists - I bloody love a good list. She says as she's writing one. Lists help me to organise my thoughts and make everything just that little bit more achievable. I need to have my days planned out to the hour in order to be productive and lists help me no end!
4. Yoga - I think when people hear the word "mindful" they instantly think of Yoga and some painfully awkward positions that are supposed to relax you, but actually end up driving you into a paranoia that you've definitely overstretched something or ruptured an organ. Well Yoga doesn't have to be that scary exercise that only gymnasts should do, you can find a plethora of mindfulness Yoga routines on YouTube that are designed to relax you and centre your mind. Great if you're feeling panicky and need to physically relax your body before you can relax your mind. 
5. TURN OFF YOUR ELECTRONICS - This is a big one. Our connection to the world of media with Twitter, Insta, emails and good ole 'FaceyB' has made it almost impossible to switch off. I don't know about you but I am a pro at procrastinating my spare time away on my phone and before I know it, it's 2am and I need to be up in 5 hours but I'm so alert from browsing the web that sleep looks like an improbable luxury. SWITCH IT OFF. That's right, tear yourself away from the comforting cocoon of social media and actually enjoy living. Read a book, go on a walk, chat to your friend or partner, visit family. Just do something REAL something tangible. It will do wonders for your mind. 
6. Utilise Apps - Yes, okay, okay. I know what you're thinking. "But Emily you just said turn your phone off, now your saying use apps?" WELL, not everyone can drag themselves away from their phones and I totally understand that. Not being connected to social media can actually become quite daunting especially if you're a blogger and heavily rely on it. Instead find some apps that can help you to switch off. I really like "MindShift" "Headspace" and Calm.  
7. Listen to Music - When I say this I'm not necessarily thinking about anything in the charts here. Listen to music that relaxes you, that inspires you, that makes you think. My personal favourites to listen to are YES (Particularly the Fragile Album)- 70s Prog Rock, Chopin & Debussy - Classical Pianists, and the "Relax & Unwind" playlist on Spotify which is more current but still creates a relaxing environment.