Call it what you will but as one year ends and a new one starts, we do tend to take stock of things in our lives. New Year’s resolutions. Goal setting. The 2010 Agenda. Getting a fresh start. It can be a time of reflection and a time where we put things into perspective. It can also be a daunting task as we may have the tendency to want to “do it all.” As someone who used to try to do it all (with perfection), with two young children, a small business and some volunteer work, I realized, during my daughter’s first year of life, that it is a completely unrealistic goal to get it all done. Accepting that realization and knowing I am not a failure because of it was a huge process and it didn’t happen overnight. What helped me in that process? Something called mindfulness.

Mindfulness is described as many things but essentially it is attending to the moment at hand. That could mean giving someone your full attention when they are talking to you. It could mean that we don’t try to multi –task so much but take pleasure and focus on one task at a time. It could mean that we pay attention to the aches in our body and address them. It could mean that we attend and acknowledge any emotions and feelings that we are having in a particular moment without self criticism. Mindfulness could also just mean taking a moment to sit and enjoy a beautiful day.

Why is it so important? Research has shown that practicing mindfulness can improve outcomes for people suffering from ailments such as heart disease, anxiety or panic attacks, stress, chronic pain, cancer, HIV/AIDS, headaches, insomnia, high blood pressure, menopause and weight management. In any health issue, there is a link between our emotional state and our physical state.

How do you get started? Set aside 10 minutes for yourself everyday. Sit or lie comfortably. Become aware of your breath and breathe naturally. Attempt to clear your mind of all of your “To Do Lists” , worries or concerns. This can be very hard to do at first but do not get frustrated as it takes some practice. Other tools are to write down your thoughts each day; keep a journal. Some folks learn mindfulness techniques in Yoga or Meditation classes which can be helpful.

Give it a try and give yourself some time and you will notice a difference in yourself and how you respond to others and to stress. Have a lovely New Year!