Exclusives
Exclusives

Contact Information

Agricultural Communications Services
College of Agriculture, Food and Environment

131 Scovell Hall 115 Huguelet Drive Lexington, KY 40546-0064

Reduce stress through mindfulness

Reduce stress through mindfulness

Reduce stress through mindfulness

Published on May. 12, 2022

Source: Kerri Ashurst, senior extension specialist and Janet Mullins, extension professor

Many stressful factors plague us on a constant basis. COVID-19, social media, 24/7 news alerts and demands from work and home help to create a world full of noise and chaos. Sometimes, we can get caught up in these stressors or events and allow them to take control over our lives and reduce our quality of life. Next time you are faced with a particularly tense encounter or situation, try using mindfulness to reduce your stress and return your focus to what is important to you.

Mindfulness requires you to purposely pay attention to what is happening in the present moment. The most common method is to focus on deep breathing and clearing your mind of thoughts. You can also focus on your physical self, your surroundings or your movements as you do a normal daily activity such as walking. Mindfulness helps you re-center, reduces external distractions and allows you to evaluate yourself and your reactions to life’s stressors.

Mindfulness-based stress reduction has been around since the 1970s, and numerous scientific studies have shown it is effective to reduce stress and may offer other positive benefits including decreased anxiety and depression. Some studies have shown mindful eating can also be a great tool for weight management.

You can practice mindfulness any time or any place, as long as you turn your focus inward and allow distractions to fade away. For more information on mindfulness, contact the (COUNTY NAME) Extension office.

Educational programs of the Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of economic or social status and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expressions, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, age, veteran status, or physical or mental disability.

-30-


FCS

Contact Information

Agricultural Communications Services
College of Agriculture, Food and Environment

131 Scovell Hall 115 Huguelet Drive Lexington, KY 40546-0064