One of my new axioms in life is: are you a proactive person or a reactive person. In our hustle bustle lifestyle here in Northern Virginia, we tend to have a lot thrown at us. We often feel the need to react. Developing a mindfulness practice will help you be the proactive wellness wonder and not someone who tends to react to daily life.Practicing mindfulness has so many benefits, including achieving that true health, wellness, and fitness you’ve always wanted. In my Concierge Wellness and Corporate Wellness programs, my mindfulness practice helps clients shrink their stress and their waistline. (Click here to book a Corporate Wellness Workshop).  Decreasing your stress will help you sleep better, react less and respond more, lose weight, make better decisions, and live a much more contented life. Trust me!When we practice mindfulness, we are “calming the brain” and warding off stress, anxiety, worry – in the moment. We are also building it up a “reserve” for when we most need it – when stress unexpectedly happens.After practicing this for years now, I’ve learned the past and the future briefly leave your thoughts. You focus just on the now.  Here are 15 research based benefits of mindfulness:

1. Reduces stress
2. Improves mental focus and ability to concentrate
3. Lowers anxiety levels and lessens depression
4. Increases feelings of well-being
5. Lessens emotional reactions to situations
6. Promotes greater clarity
7. Improves behavior control and modification
8. Lowers reaction to stressors
9. Increases your awareness
10. Gives you a deeper connection to the circumstance or person
11. Positively impacts how you respond to crisis
12. Calms and quiets the busy mind
13. Sharpens job performance and productivity
14. Enhances creativity and innovation
15. Mitigates a constant feeling of overwhelm and busyness

In a landmark study conducted by Aetna, a leader in mindfulness for its employees, they found a mindfulness practice reduces stress, improves sleep, and allows you to better manage physical pain. And it’s free!Being mindful will help you take control of your day and your life and give you the freedom to make the choices that will lead to greater health, wellness, and contentedness.  Now that you know the many benefits of Mindfulness, you may be wondering how you can be mindful in your daily life. Stay tuned for part four which will include my top five strategies to practice mindfulness.If you’re interested in my concierge program and how you can develop your own mindfulness practice, click here for a free 30-minute consult. If you’d like to book a Mindfulness Corporate Wellness Workshop for your staff, click here.