As we head into Springtime, it’s a time for us to come out of hibernation from the winter and enter the new season with some powerful energy and zest for life. But with that energy sometimes comes an element of stress and tension, as we try to push through our to-do lists and achieve, achieve, achieve.

There is nothing wrong with achieving. Achievement is a good thing that lies at the heart of our basic needs to feel fulfilled in life. The problem lies when we place pressure on our bodies and minds in order to achieve so much in such a short space of time. This is also known as ‘biting off more than we can chew’ and many of us seldom realise how much we are doing this.

The word ‘mindfulness’ has become a buzz word in recent years. In its essence, to be mindful is to simply become conscious. That is, being aware of our actions, thoughts and behaviours as much as possible.

Being mindful is bringing yourself back into the now, the present moment and re-tuning your focus to what’s important, without judgment. For example, if you are pushing through your working week with an energy of urgency, frenzy and flurry, you are putting your nervous system into a state of chronic stress. This is known as the “fight or flight” reaction, also known as a sympathetic nervous system response, which can be problematic when long-term. Problems of chronic stress can include digestive problems, impaired immune system functioning and also poor mood and concentration.

This is why it is so important that we take time out to re-align our bodies and minds and calm down our nervous system. So how do we do this? By becoming more mindful, of course!

Here are 5 top tips on how to become more mindful this Spring:

Catch That ‘Thought Train’

When your mind starts to wander into worry or negativity, try and catch these thoughts before they spiral out of control. Observe these thoughts as an outsider, without judgment, and ask yourself, “are these thoughts serving me?”.

 Be Present

A great way to practise mindful behaviour is to step into the present moment. Distancing yourself from worrying about the past or future can drain a lot of our energy reserves, and so being in the present moment is a fantastic remedy for this. Practise being in your surroundings and observe everything around you.

A good tip is to say what you see to yourself in your head. For instance, you’re sitting on a bus. You see “a lady in a red coat, a baby in a pram, a man tying his shoelaces”.  Spend a few minutes saying what you see to yourself, without judgment. Just simple observations like this can help distance you from worry and focus on being mindful and present.

Slow down

Think about it. Many of us are pent-up with nervous or excitable energy during our everyday lives. This energy can manifest itself in the speed in which we do things; rushing around to catch the bus or a train, or even talking really fast as a result of our busy and hectic schedules.

Slowing our movements down is a really amazing way to relieve any feelings of anxiety or stress.

Try and observe whenever your body feels the need to push itself faster; this should be a sign to actually do the opposite. Start by noticing your speech; are you a fast talker? Then observe your movements; are you rushing around in the morning because you haven’t got enough time? If so, maybe you could try to wake up 15 minutes earlier. This way you can slow down what you are doing by up to fifty per cent and feel so much calmer during the rest of your day. Walk slower and think to yourself – do I always need to be in such a hurry? Once we slow our pace down, we avoid letting nervous energy in and we can remain calm and in control throughout the day.

Pick a Prompt

Try to bring awareness to the simple tasks you tend to do on auto-pilot, but pick a prompt to remind you to do so. For example, if you are writing an important e-mail, your prompt might be to focus on the breath as a cue to shift your brain into mindful mode, as you observe the energy that you are bringing to the task. Another example is focussing on a certain colour in your environment, such as any objects that are blue (i.e a blue pen, a blue door) to remind you to become mindful of your behaviours and stress levels.

Take Mini Breaks

Taking breaks is a great way to recalibrate when you’re having a busy day. Being mindful is simply gaining more consciousness, and having a break now and then is something that can help you to become more aware of your emotions, thoughts and stressors, giving us the chance to rebalance and recharge.