For Mental Health Awareness Week, I have been thinking about the small things that help create a bit of space when life feels busy or overwhelming. Mindfulness is one of those things that gets talked about a lot, and I know it can sometimes sound a bit abstract, but for me it is really about being able to pause and bring myself back into the present moment.
Like a lot of people, I can spend too much time replaying conversations, thinking ahead, or trying to juggle everything at once. Mindfulness does not stop that completely, but it helps me notice when my mind is running away with itself and gives me a chance to slow things down a bit.
That is one of the reasons I enjoy yoga. While people often associate it with strength or flexibility, the biggest benefit for me is the focus on breathing and movement. It gives me time where my attention is not constantly being pulled elsewhere.
The most important part of the practice is actually the final few minutes, Shavasana. It is the moment at the end where everything becomes still for a while and you have a chance to properly pause before moving onto the next thing. I think that stillness is something many of us do not get enough of in everyday life.
For me, mindfulness is not about getting things perfect or feeling calm all the time. It is just one way of creating a little more awareness and making space to reset when it is needed.
- Ellie Johns
