Try practicing mindfulness for one minute every day, said psychologist Lauren Kerwin, PhD, executive clinical director of Evolve Treatment Centres in California. Once a day, she said, focus all your senses on:
- Something you can see: a bird outside the window, the colour of your floor tiles
- Something you can touch: a blanket, the water running through your fingers
- Something you can smell: tea, essential oil, laundry detergent on your shirt
- Something you can hear: the hum of the air conditioner, a car driving by
- Something you can taste: toothpaste, food you're eating
"This type of exercise only takes a few minutes but does wonders for your mental health," Dr. Kerwin said. "It helps your mind stretch the mental muscle of observance and mindfulness, of becoming more aware and observant of the facts surrounding you." When your emotions start spiraling, this practice grounds you in your physical reality.