Student Wellbeing

MINDFULNESS activity

Mindfulness involves focusing on the present moment without judgement.  The benefit of being present increases greater focus, strengthens emotional intelligence, improves memory and brain functionality. This activity focuses on the present moment by utilising our senses and interpreting the information the brain receives. This practice strengthens our ability to interpret information through our senses and focusing on only one sense at a time (which is something we rarely do!) 

Steps:

1. Go outside for a walk, or Sit in your backyard, or choose a room in the house (If you stay in doors, light a candle or create some kind of atmosphere).
2. Utilise all your senses.

What are 5 things you can see? Look around you and notice 5 things you hadn’t noticed before. Maybe a pattern on a wall, light reflecting from a surface, or a knick-knack in the corner of a room.

What are 4 things you can feel? Pick up an object and notice its texture. Maybe you can feel the pressure of your feet on the floor, or the breeze outside, your shirt resting on your shoulders, or the temperature on your skin. 

What are 3 things you can hear? Notice all the background sounds you had been filtering out, such as birds chirping, cars on a distant street or the heater running.

What are 2 things you can smell? Maybe you can smell flowers, something cooking, or a candle burning. It doesn’t have to be a nice smell either.

What is 1 thing you can taste? Pop a piece of gum in your mouth, sip a drink, eat a snack if you have one, or simply notice how your mouth tastes. “Taste” the air to see how it feels on your tongue.

The numbers for each sense are only a guideline. Feel free to do more or less of each. Also, try this exercise while doing an activity like going for a walk, listening to music, or cleaning your room.