One month into the new year, enthusiasm about new year’s resolutions is already beginning to wane for many people.
The intentions to live a healthier more stress-free lifestyle are good, but day-to day pressures and challenges can get in the way of self care.
To help people seeking to prioritize self care, manage stress, or just carve out time to rest and recharge amidst the chaos of daily life, the Michigan State University Extension has revamped its Mindfulness for Better Living website to serve as a comprehensive resource that makes mindfulness practices accessible, engaging and practical for everyone.
“Mindfulness is a powerful skill that can have a profound impact on mental and physical health,” said MSU Extension health educator Nicole Wethington. “Anyone can practice mindfulness, and we wanted to provide tools to help people develop their mindfulness practice and feel the benefits.”
The website provides user-friendly resources to people that can help them integrate healthy habits and mindfulness into their daily routines. A wide variety of tools are available including guided medications and stress management tips.
Site content is separated into six topic areas to help people hone in on their area of concern. Topic areas are basics, breath, body, thoughts, emotions and practice.
Basics offers a quick introduction to the concept of mindfulness with some easy resources to practice mindful grounding and follow along with an introductory, Michigan-themed guided imagery meditation.
The breath section shows how breathwork can help regulate our parasympathetic nervous system. Educational videos on this page demonstrate techniques such as “box breathing,” “star breathing,” and “4-7-8 breathing.”
For those trying to understand the body’s stress response and cortisol’s effect, the body section will explain that as well as offer practices to relieve pain, stress, anxiety and depression.
The thoughts section teaches people to reduce stress and reactivity through skills such as decentering and thought surfing and emotions is a section offering ways to understand the emotional benefit of mindfulness as well as a guided imagery emotion medication.
Finally, practice offers information and suggestions on how to build an individual mindfulness practice.
The newly revamped site also features mindfulness articles authored by MSU Extension’s health educators and a listing of classes offered under the MSU Extension Mindfulness for Better Living programming.
“The mindfulness programs we teach at MSU Extension can have such a profound impact,” said MSU Extension health educator Tanner Derror.“We’ve seen participants in our programs transform their mindsets, reduce stress, navigate daily life more effectively and enhance their overall well-being.
“That’s why we’re so excited to make these resources available to everyone.”
To explore these resources and start your journey toward mindfulness, visit canr.msu.edu/mindfulnessforbetterliving. To see a complete library of mindfulness videos available to you, visit the new Mindfulness for Better Living YouTube channel.
