Mindfulness

Recent research shows that mindfulness can be an extraordinary tool for achieving goals, including reducing depression, anxiety, and trauma symptoms.  It can also be useful for cultivating patience, compassion, self-acceptance and concentration.
 
Mindfulness is simply awareness, and acceptance, of the present moment. This can be practiced formally, through meditation, or informally throughout your day. 
 
If the idea of meditating doesn't appeal to you, perhaps you could try informal mindfulness first.  Informal mindfulness can be practiced while washing the dishes, singing, dancing or even just walking. If you want to try incorporating mindfulness into your day, simply think of a daily activity and make a decision to only do that one thing for a few minutes. We all need to multi-task throughout our day in order to get things done, but taking a break from multi-tasking for just a few minutes a day can have enormous positive consequences. Try eating a snack mindfully. Try brushing your teeth mindfully. Find something that works for you.
 
If you have any interest in trying formal meditation, here's something to think about when you get started: Many people believe that they "are bad at meditating." However, studies have shown that just the act of sitting and attempting to meditate can cause a reduction in stress. Also, just meditating for 1-minute can even be helpful.
 
I believe that mindfulness can be potentially helpful for everyone, but we each have to find the method that works for us.