Monday Mindful Moments: Name It

Welcome to another edition in my Monday Mindful Moments Series.

Despite its simplicity, mindfulness is a hard skill to consistently put into practice. Read on to learn about another easy way to practice remaining in the present moment.

Mindfulness and Distraction

Have you ever noticed when trying to stay in the present moment, (before you even realize it), your mind is already somewhere else?

Maybe you’re already in the future- dreading an upcoming event, worried about all the crap you have on your to-do list, or even looking forward to something exciting coming up.

Or,

Maybe your mind is somewhere in the past- replaying that argument you had with your partner, or judging yourself for prior mistakes.

Or,

You’re in the present, but you keep getting distracted by that annoying itch you’re feeling on your knee or the blaring music you hear from your neighbor’s apartment.

Instead of judging your experience, try this—

Notice the interruption

It’s happened again- you were totally “all in” the present moment, and then all of sudden, you weren’t.

Here’s the thing- even the most seasoned mindful person, gets distracted.

Here’s what you do.

Even if, despite your best interests, you find yourself distracted from the “here and now”, it’s completely ok. Once you do realize what’s happening, call it for what it is.

Identify the distraction.

Here’s an example—

Literally, like when you’re trying to practice mindful breathing, and you notice your attention keeps getting pulled away to that stinkin’ loud dog barking down the street.

Name it. Yes, literally, name or label it.

So, for instance, when you notice that dog barking has interrupted your focus, say to yourself, “distraction” and then come back to your breath.

Or,

If you notice that your mind keeps going to that never-ending to-do list, say to yourself, “thought”, and then return to your breath.

Or,

That itch on your knee, say to yourself, “sensation” and then return to your breath.

You get the idea, right?

Just being able to notice that you’re getting distracted, is in, and of itself, practicing mindfulness. Crazy, right?

Practicing mindfulness daily will help you get better at this skill. It’s not something that comes naturally for people, especially in the multi-tasking fast-paced world we live in.

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