TAK A TRANSITIONAL MOMENT FOR A MINDFULNESS CHECK-IN (The Easy Way to Practice Mindfulness In Everyday Life)

We're constantly being bombarded with all the things we should be doing to improve our well-being and mental health. But sometimes, we feel worse because we can't fit it all in. Another failed attempt at uplifting ourselves leaves us feeling more down.

Today, I want to introduce you to one of my favourite practices: the transitional moment. It's a powerful mindfulness practice that easily fits into your daily routine. I want to set you up for success, and this practice is a game-changer.

Today's blog is for you if you;

• Feel stressed a lot of the time

• Want to improve your mental health

• Haven't got time for mindfulness practice

• Always forget to practice mindfulness

• Need a realistically sustainable self-care practice

• Like short meditations

• Struggle with emotional regulation

• Want to incorporate more mindfulness in daily life

• Want to develop self-awareness

• Want to optimise transitional moments

  
  
  

MINDFULNESS BENEFITS

Research is showing that the benefits of mindfulness reach far and wide. We've seen improvements in physical health, such as reduced blood pressure, improved immune function, better sleep quality, and decreased symptoms of chronic pain.

Research has even shown that mindfulness techniques can enhance performance in academics, athletics, and professional settings by promoting focus, concentration, and present-moment awareness.

One of the most powerful effects of mindfulness is on our mental health. Regular mindfulness practice improves well-being. But when you add all the benefits across our different dimensions, you end up with a more balanced and fulfilling life.

HOW DOES MINDFULNESS IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH?

Mindfulness is a powerful tool for tackling common mental health issues. Research shows it can reduce stress, depression, anxiety, ADHD, and mood disorders. Plus, when you combine mindfulness with other practices, it can help with addictions, too.

Mindfulness can lower cortisol levels, reducing stress. But it also increases grey matter in brain areas linked to emotional regulation. That means the more we practice mindfulness, the less overwhelmed we feel from our emotions. And the more we can respond rather than react to life.

Practising mindfulness helps us appreciate the good things in life and feel more gratitude. It also boosts self-compassion, making it an essential part of any self-care routine.

The benefits of mindfulness are endless, but one of the most powerful benefits of mindfulness is how it nurtures us. Using mindfulness to check in with ourselves develops our self-awareness and helps us understand how our world and environment affect us.

With awareness of this important information, it's easier to make the changes we need to have a better life.

MINDFULNESS CHECK-IN

Mindfulness is all about being aware of the present moment. There are many mindfulness exercises that develop our awareness of the present moment. Mindful check-ins specifically focus on our relationship with the present moment.

In this mindful moment, we give ourselves a little bit of space. So often, we spend our days rushing around, unaware of how it affects us. Totally unaware of how we're feeling or what our needs are.

I remember one client told me that she'd go all day without using the toilet, and then all of a sudden, she'd realise she needed to go for hours. That's how disconnected from ourselves we can be. But what else is going on for us that we're not noticing?

By making mindfulness a part of our daily routine, we start to notice what's going on for us. How we're feeling physically, intellectually, emotionally and spiritually.

WHAT IS A TRANSITIONAL MOMENT?

Transitional moments are brief moments in our day between activities. It's when we move from one activity to the next. Like when we get in the car to drive somewhere. Or when we stop work to go for lunch. After a work meeting. When we get home. At the end of a workout, when we're changing. When the kids go to bed.

We have hundreds of transitional moments in our everyday lives and daily routines. Many of them are repeated on a regular basis. And that's why it's so easy to attach a mindful moment or mindful check-in at these times.

INCORPORATING TRANSITIONAL MOMENTS INTO YOUR DAILY ROUTINE

My clients often report that they've forgotten to do their mindfulness practices. Even simple mindfulness exercises can be overlooked for days. That's why I love the transitional moment mindful check-in.

Transitional moments enable us to anchor our mindful practice into certain actions. Because we anchor them to a physical action, they become easier to remember to do. For example, if you anchor your mindful check-in to getting in or out of the car or both, it starts to become habitual.

Your brain associates getting into the car with a mindful moment. A bit like Pavlov's dogs. Other great examples are walking up the stairwell to your office and down again, switching on your computer and off again, locking the front door and unlocking it. If this resonates with your daily routine, you've just created six opportunities to check in with yourself during the day.

You could start by leaving a Post-it on your computer or dashboard to remind you during the first week or so. After that, just like Pavlov's dogs, you'll start to do it automatically. And soon enough, you'll miss that nourishing moment on the rare occasion you forget. And you'll stop right there and then to give yourself that moment. That's when mindfulness has become a part of your life and way of being.

4 QUESTIONS FOR YOUR MINDFULNESS CHECK-IN

You don't need a guided meditation for your transitional moment. It's just about becoming aware of what's going on for you in that moment. These four questions are good prompts to help you notice all of what's arising for you. What's more, they're easy to remember. Just remember the PIES acronym.

1. How am I feeling Physically?

2. How am I feeling Intellectually?

3. How am I feeling Emotionally?

4. How am I feeling Spiritually?

   
   

WHY IS TRANSITIONAL MOMENT CHECKING IN SO POWERFUL?

The transitional moment check-in is a great way to develop self-awareness. But it's also a way to gauge your current state so that you can develop a deeper understanding of how your life, your environment and the people around you affect you. It's

For example, as you take the elevator after a meeting at work, you might notice that you feel re-energised and inspired. Great! On the other hand, you might notice that you feel deflated and depressed. If, every time you meet with the same people, you notice the same pattern in your elevator transitional moment, you might want to reflect on why this is happening.

Perhaps you feel browbeaten in your meeting, reflecting an unhealthy work environment. Or maybe you realise you need to get your word across effectively and need to learn better communication skills. Either way, you can take action to change the situation.

Multiply this awareness across all your daily transitional moments, and you're well on the way to creating a life that is more balanced, more in tune with your needs and more fulfilling.

PRACTICING MINDFULNESS

I love the transitional moment mindful check-in. It's a powerful tool in and of itself. But that's not to take away from other mindful practices. They all have their place and their benefits. Mindfulness is a way of being, and the more we practice mindful exercise, the more it's ingrained in how our brains function.

Neuroplasticity is the ability of our brains to be rewired. Mindfulness changes our brains and improves our well-being. Start with transitional moment mindful check-ins because they're easy. Once they're part of your life you can add other mindfulness practices like mindfulness breathing.

INSIGHT HIGHLIGHTS

You don't need to take precious time out of your day for your self-care practice. Transitional moments offer us a powerful way of checking in with ourselves. They're easy to remember through association, so they set you up to succeed at your self-care goals. When we check in with ourselves, we gather valuable information about ourselves, our lives, and how we engage in the world. With this information, we can create a life that works for us, not against us, empowering us and supporting us. Let's thrive in this world through knowing ourselves better.

Thanks for reading, and as always, keep striving for growth and well-being, and never settle for less!

How I Can Help

I hope you found this blog post helpful and inspiring. Transitional moments are easy to incorporate into your life but if you have any questions or need further guidance, please don't hesitate to reach out using the WhatsApp wideget. As someone who’s deeply passionate about well-being and personal growth and development, I offer services designed to help you cultivate a life you love whilst enjoying inner peace. Whether through one-on-one coaching sessions here on the Côte d’Azur or online, I’m here to support your journey towards becoming the best version of yourself.

Here’s to your well-being, personal growth and success!

Head over to the services section on my website for more information on how we can work together to achieve your goals.