Mindfulness is a major buzzword lately, and with good reason. The way we navigate the ups and downs of our day-to-day lives has changed dramatically over the past 12 months; more and more people can’t help but let their worries and anxiety creep in.
You may think that your personal troubles won’t directly affect the content you create, but the truth is that you can’t create great content today, if your mind is preoccupied with what might happen tomorrow.
With a clear mind, you can tap into more creativity, innovation and energy than you ever thought possible.
That’s why practicing mindfulness is such a powerful tool, not only for your mental health, but also for your business. Let’s take a look at how staying in the moment can elevate your content and inject positivity into everything you share.
WHAT IS MINDFULNESS?
The concept of mindfulness is easy to understand but can be difficult to put into practice. Simply put, mindfulness is the act of living in the moment, and of being aware of everything that’s presently happening around you. Successful mindfulness means that you’re not worrying about the bills you have to pay or even what you’re planning to make for dinner. You need to stay in the moment. Sounds simple, right? Well, it can be, and while mindfulness is definitely an achievable goal, it does take some practice to perfect.
HOW CAN MINDFULNESS HELP ME CREATE BETTER CONTENT?
Content creation is all about keeping your audience in mind and being mindful of the wants and needs of your fan base can help keep you grounded while you’re creating. With a clear mind, you can tap into more creativity, innovation and energy than you ever thought possible. Just like creating a content calendar or a shooting schedule, incorporating mindfulness into your routine can help make running your business far easier. The best part? Once you get the hang of it, it will be second nature to stay in the moment while you’re creating.
Successful content fills a need for the intended audience, whether it answers a question, provides entertainment or sparks intrigue. Being conscious of the need you’re filling is so important when you’re sharing content, and that can vary from performer to performer and platform to platform. But by incorporating mindfulness into your creative process, you can make the process of creating smoother, simpler and far more enjoyable. When you’re in a mindful state, you’re doing a task for the pleasure of doing it, not just to get it done.
WHAT ARE SOME BEST PRACTICES FOR MINDFULNESS?
True mindfulness can take some practice to achieve. You can’t expect your brain to shut off simply because you tell it to; you have to train it to behave the way you want. Think of it like exercise. The first day of a heavy workout is always a killer, but as time goes on and you get stronger, it becomes less and less of a challenge. The same is true of mindfulness. Let’s take a look at some best practices that can help you focus your mind and unleash your creative spirit:
1. MAKE USE OF YOUR MORNINGS
The first habit to master is an easy one … stay in bed a little longer! The first step to mindfulness is quieting the mind, and the start of a new day is the perfect time to achieve the stillness that mindfulness requires. When you wake up, don’t leap out of bed. Give yourself a few minutes to remain in the moment, appreciate the new day, and think about what you’re grateful for. Lying quietly in the mornings can help calm your nerves, steady your mind and make the rest of your day a more invigorating experience overall.
2. GET OUTDOORS
As we leave a particularly frosty winter behind, getting outdoors is a great way to practice mindfulness and learn how to stay in the moment. There are so many sights, sounds and smells that can really help you get in touch with your senses. Opening yourself up to fresh air and sunshine is fuel for the body and the spirit and can put you in a great mood to focus on your content.
3. MEDITATE
Meditation is key to freeing your mind. Listening to your body, controlling your breathing and centering your thoughts can all help broaden your perspective and boost your creativity. With regular meditation, you’ll find that it’s not only relaxing, but also a major inspirational boost.
4. FOCUS ON ONE TASK AT A TIME
The ability to multitask is an amazing skill, but when you’re creating content, it’s much more effective to focus on a single goal at a time. You’ll not only get results more quickly, but the quality of your content will soar. Whether you’re shooting a show or creating a photoset, keep your mind on that task and that task only.
5. BREAK UP YOUR DAY
If you’re someone who lives and dies by your calendar, or can’t function without a shooting schedule, you’re already on the path to successful mindfulness. Scheduling your days will help you be more aware of the tasks that you need to achieve and you’ll be able to complete those tasks more effectively. This is especially true for content creators, and streamlining your day will allow you to not only create more content, you’ll also produce more valuable content.
6. KEEP A GRATITUDE JOURNAL
Journaling has been proven to calm nerves, help you work out problems, reduce stress and give you a more positive outlook. It’s also a great way to practice mindfulness! When you journal, you’re focusing your thoughts on one task, helping you to stay in the moment. A gratitude journal will allow you to count your blessings, making your day-to-day tasks easier to face.
Mindfulness is not something you can learn in a day, but with time and practice, it can become a valuable part of your life, not only in terms of creating content, but to help improve your mental and physical health overall.
Brooke Powell is the Community Manager at FanCentro, a premium social media network for influencers, models and adult stars. Contact a success coach by emailing success@fancentro.com and follow @fancentrotribe on Twitter.
