What is mindfulness? Is having mindfulness surrounding my health necessary? Is it just a bunch of baloney? In the month of February, we are taking a moment to delve into “mindfulness” and how to apply it in our own lives!

Mindfulness is a bit of an abstract term. In the realm of health, it can mean taking frequent breaks to check-in with your body and how you are feeling. This can be applied to your physical health, such as in exercise or eating, as well as your mental health, such as at work, while studying, or in a stressful situation.

Being mindful throughout your day involves choosing a practice that allows you to focus and be completely aware of what you are sensing and feeling in any given moment. Practically, this could mean intuitive breathing, guided imagery, or a quick 10-minute meditation.

At Eat Well CSU, we like to talk a lot about how mindfulness relates to nutrition and eating. If you are in-tune with the current world of nutrition, you have probably heard the phrase “mindful” or “intuitive eating” thrown around. Thankfully, media and pop culture seem to be moving away from fad diets and instead, are hopping on the mindful train. Many people find it very difficult to stick to a diet long enough to see results, especially in situations where foods are labeled as “good” or “bad.” Alternatively, mindful eating is the life-long process of health-conscious habits, including paying attention to what foods fuel your body and honoring your personal hunger.

Ok, cool. That sounds great! Now what?

When getting started, it is important to reflect on your current eating habits and to understand the differences between physical and emotional hunger. Physical hunger comes on gradually while emotional hunger can be brought on suddenly in response to strong feelings such as stress or sadness. As a result, emotional hunger can often cause overeating as one typically will never truly feel satisfied. When this occurs, take a moment to recognize it, be kind to yourself and how you are feeling, and find a healthy activity to help you manage your emotions like exercising or meditating.

If you have more questions about mindful eating and would like pointers on how to implement it in your own life, schedule a free appointment with Housing & Dining Services’ Registered Dietitian Nutritionist by emailing Brittney.sly@colostate.edu or by visiting https://eatwell.colostate.edu/.