Chris O.Reflection practices are a great way to improve deep thinking, foster creativity, and increase your self-awareness. They are a great way to be active and careful in your examination of ideas, experiences, and thoughts. It is a form of mindfulness that can help you to attain the most out of each present moment, and to help you develop new skills in a deliberate, careful way. It’s great to incorporate these reflection practices into your schedule, and I personally believe you can attain great benefit from practicing them just before bed. Here are some of the methods I incorporate into my simple nighttime reflection practices.
The Benefits of Mindfulness
Meditation — and mindfulness in general — is a foreign concept to some people. It sounds mystical, like something people would practice in some place both far off and fantastical. The truth is mindfulness is practiced by many millions of people around the globe, and aids them spiritually, mentally, and physically. However, while its benefits are grounded in scientific research, there are still some people who feel skeptical about the practical advantages mindfulness can provide. According to the Mayo Clinic, mindfulness practices can help you conquer stress, anxiety, and depression; it can also help combat the negative effects of insomnia by helping you get the sleep you need each night. This is why it is so crucial to practice mindfulness, and why I keep up with my nighttime reflection practices so ardently.
Journaling Before Bed
It can be extremely helpful to commit your thoughts, feelings, and considerations into writing. This practice is known as journaling, and it is one of the key ways I like to practice reflection in the evenings. Once you have committed yourself to written reflection, you can always return to your writing to see if you still share the same beliefs, or if your thoughts have shifted and your concerns and priorities along with them.
Mindful Pause
Sometimes, it can feel like life is just flying by, like a passenger plane soaring through a jet stream. However, when we unwittingly embrace the mundanity of everyday life, it can feel like we have just put all of our lived experiences on fast-forward. This might seem like a good idea when you are waiting in line at the DMV, but in reality, it is painful realizing just how much of your life is passing you by simply because the time passing is perceived to be moving so quickly.
A great way to break up this mundanity is through a mindful pause. A mindful pause is when you simply take the time to reflect, and be present in, the current moment. You can pull back, take in the environment around you, make more deliberate, thoughtful choices , and slow down your perception of time greatly. Mindful pauses can be taken when the thought occurs to you, or they can be scheduled in advance. Whatever your choice, I would highly recommend incorporating a mindful pause into your evening reflection practice: it helps you to truly take in the moment and be proud and thankful for all you have.
Evening Mindfulness Meditation
Capping your day off with a positive session of mindfulness meditation can be just the thing to properly reflect and consider any belief. Mindfulness meditation is actually fairly simple, and all you need to do is the following:
- Find somewhere comfortable to sit
- Sit with your back straight and feet flat against the floor
- Place your hands in your lap
After you have gotten in the right position, simply focus on your breathing. Breathe in through your nose and out your mouth, while paying attention to your breath and trying to tune out outside noise. When your concentration falters, simply refocus on your breath. Once you have calmed yourself and cleared your mind, you can reflect on whatever you are considering with a renewed and fresh focus and perspective.
Conclusion
Practicing reflection can have broad benefits on your ability to learn and consider new ideas and beliefs. Whether you are making an important life decision, or just considering something carefully, reflection — whether in written or mindful form — can be just the thing you need. If you are interested in other mindfulness, lifestyle, or wellness topics, then make sure to check out our other blogs for more!
