You’ve heard the buzz about “mindfulness,” but you’re not sure what it is or how to apply it to your life. Turns out, it’s as simple as taking a few moments to focus on yourself.

What Is Mindfulness?
Being mindful means paying close attention to what’s happening in the moment. Put simply, mindfulness is about being present.

It means noticing what’s happening inside your mind and in your body. (Your stomach hurts when you think about doing your taxes.)

And it means being aware of what’s happening around you. (Flowers are blooming on your route to work.)

When you’re being mindful, the key is not to label or judge what’s happening. Your feelings aren’t good or bad. They just are.

In that way, mindfulness is about observing. You notice your life with a little distance, instead of reacting emotionally.

The opposite of mindfulness is being on autopilot. That’s when you do things without any thought or consideration.

You’re on autopilot, for instance, when you back out of your driveway and head to work on a Saturday when you meant to go to the park.

How Do You Know You’re Doing It Right?
You can focus on the present anytime, anywhere: in your car, standing in a line, or at work.

Try “single-tasking.” That’s doing one thing at a time and giving it your full attention. It can be on something as common as flossing your teeth or eating an apple.

Finish reading on WebMD’s website