The words “meditation” and “mindfulness” get tossed around a lot these days. They are often used interchangeably, which is understandable. They both sort of refer to the same thing – calming an overactive mind.
So what exactly is the difference between the two? I’ve always wondered the same thing myself, so I decided to dig a little deeper to see what I could find out.
This post contains affiliate links. For more information, read my affiliate disclosure policy here. I am not a doctor or mental health professional and all of these opinions are my own.
Basically, meditation is the large “umbrella” term that involves mentally training the mind to better focus and control our emotions . It gives our ALWAYS RUNNING mind a short break 😉 There are a lot of different techniques that can be used to reach this form of concentration — mindfulness being one of them.
So, simply put, mindfulness a form of meditation. Doesn’t seem too confusing when you think about it that way, right? Check out my steps below to five minute mindfulness with essential oils!
Mindfulness is being aware of your present thoughts and emotions without judging, but rather accepting them.
No matter which way you look at it, there are SO many great health benefits of bringing your mind to focus on the present moment. I use essential oils all the time for many different things and this is no exception. Using a calming scent is a must for me when practicing mindfulness. Check out my post here about all the amazing reasons you NEED essential oils in your life today!!
Always keep in mind that your body benefits from being active. Your mind benefits from stillness.
Benefits of Practicing Regular Mindfulness
- better sleep
- less/better control of anxiety
- improves patience
- less stress
- helps with pain
- strengthens attention span
- increases self-control
- better self-awareness
- lower blood pressure
- improved blood circulation
- lower heart rate
- slower respiratory rate
- heightened feelings of well-being
- deeper relaxation
Ok, so all these great benefits, but how do you begin? Where do you start to practicing mindfulness meditation? It does not have to be difficult or take up a lot of time. In fact, just 5-10 minutes per day can help give you the health benefits mentioned above.
Here are a few very simple steps/ideas to follow.
Before you begin, be sure to find a comfortable location where you will not be interrupted. If you choose to, set a timer for how long you would like to spend being mindful. It’s okay to start with shorter periods of time (5-10 minutes). You can build up to whatever amount of time best benefits you. Place yourself in a comfortable, upright position where you feel alert yet relaxed.
Start your essential oil diffuser with scents that are calming to you. I enjoy a mix of Peace and Calming (3 drops) and Stress Away (3 drops). To learn more about how you can order these amazing scents, check out my post about essential oils here. Lavender, Vetiver, Sara and Ylang Ylang are also great oils for relaxation.
Steps to Five Minute Mindfulness with Essential Oils
- Beginning
Start by taking slow, deep breaths. Close your eyes. Listen to the sounds around you that are coming and going. Let go of any weight that you are carrying. Literally set it down like you would a heavy bag. This is YOUR time to move away from worrying.
- Breathing
Focus on your breath. Feel the air going in and out of your lungs. Feel your chest rising and falling. Your whole awareness at this time should be focusing on your breathing. Count your breaths slowly from one to ten. If you find that your mind is wandering (which it will), simply start back at one. It is OKAY to let your mind wander. Don’t be hard on yourself, just let this happen.
- Focus Deeper on Breathing
After the first few minutes, it will be easier to focus more on your breathing. Notice as the air travels deeper, through your lungs and back out again. Once you are fully able to focus on your breathing, you are ready for the next most important step.
- Bring Attention to Present Thoughts
Take notice of all the present thoughts that are going through your mind. Let them happen. When you notice your mind start to wander, bring your focus back to the center and again on your breathing. What do you feel right now at this present moment? Do not think about the past or worry about the future. This is all about being in the present moment as MUCH as you possibly can.
- Make a Commitment
You can practice mindfulness for however long you would like. Just like exercise, the better we get and the longer we workout, the bigger our “mindfulness muscle” will get. Even practicing five to ten minutes a day has shown drastic increases in well-being.
Practicing mindfulness creates a calm within myself that makes such a difference in my day. My mind stops racing and I am able to think so much clearer. It decreases my anxiety. I have more patience and am able to be fully present with my kids. I don’t know about you, but those benefits alone are enough to make me incredibly happy!
Make five minute mindfulness with essential oils a part of your day and tell me how it benefits you in the comments below 🙂
I Just started using a diffuser in my home but more for scent purposes . I had no idea the benefit certain oils can have on your mood and you mind. This is a very informative post , i will definately be on the hunt for more therapeutic essential oils:)
I’m so glad this post was helpful to you! Essential oils have endless benefits for our mind and bodies (and smell great, too 🙂 If you ever want some help picking out therapeutic essential oils to target specific things, please don’t hesitate to contact me! christine@sweetstruggles.com
Thank you for reading 😉