• Find a spot to meditate that inspires you. I’ve noticed that in my meditation practice, I do best when it is outdoors, in the sun. 
• Actively practice meditation. During mediation, it is okay if you come in and out of the meditation, or to notice that your mind wanders, mine still does. But the more you practice, the more magnificent your meditation practice becomes.  All that matters, at the end of the day, is that you are sitting with yourself. 
• Find an app to help! I have two favorite meditation apps that I consistently use.  They are great for someone who is on the go or travels often. Simple Habit and Mindfulness are that I lean on the most. 

She also suggested I work on making space for gratitude. I struggle supremely with creating time to be grateful for what the combination of hard work and luck have afforded me. Abby says, "Gratitude is another practice that I incorporate in my daily routine to help with mindfulness. Every night, when I climb into bed, I like to write down, or reflect, on 3-5 things that I am grateful for that day.  It can really be anything. I don’t seek a result from it, but practicing gratitude on a daily basis feels good. In that moment, everything seems to make sense." I have consistently started doing this on Abby's suggestion. Bringing the "wins" of your day has kept me grounded and so positive.

Abby also shared that being mindful is REALLY hard when you’re super anxious. When you are looking to switch from anxious or stressed to a still mind, it can be too dramatic to just flip the switch. She says that if this is the case, deep belly breathing is the way to go. Deep, controlled breathing communicates to the body that everything is going to be OKAY. Abby explained, "this will slow the heart rate and promote feelings of calm. I always like to take a step outside, into the fresh air if I am starting to have trouble breathing, or having a long day and need to come back to being present."

Go forth! Be mindful! 

SIgn up for Abby's next class here.