mindfulness
Being conscious of the moment you are in can be a direct way to help reduce stress and improve general well-being. These principles are exactly what the practices of mindfulness are built upon. While mindfulness is regularly performed by everyone to some extent, dedicating time from your day to practice situational, physical, and mental awareness can help improve your daily mood and levels of stress. Mindfulness activities can be as simple as taking a deep breath to clear your mind or engaging in gratitude journaling, and the best part is, they can be done absolutely anywhere, at any time!
Here's a list of resources to help you add mindfulness to your daily life.
Gratitude journaling :
Writing down daily lists of what you are grateful for can help strengthen habits of gratitude and appreciation in your life. This practice has been shown to help improve social connections, feelings of stress, and increase optimism.
Thnx4 is a gratitude journaling platform created by the Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley. The model was developed from research on connections between gratitude and improvement in mental, emotional, and physical health
Wellness activities:
Taking a pause from your daily routine is important. Local parks can be an great location for mental relaxation and are full of opportunities to engage in the present. Whether it be laying in the grass, smelling the blooming flowers, or taking a slow stroll, these places are a great getaway to relax and unwind!
Let's stay local! Below is a compiled list of parks and peaceful nature spots around the city of Portland Oregon.