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You Don't Have to Close Your Eyes to Practice Mindfulness


Mindfulness is often thought of as meditation and sitting still that requires time and dedication. Sitting still with our eyes closed may feel overwhelming, especially for students with trauma or anxiety. However, it is a lot more than that. Mindfulness is the act of being in the present moment and letting go of thoughts about yesterday or what will happen tomorrow. Trauma-informed practices with mindfulness involve creating a sense of safety for students, so they can freely practice the activities.


Students can practice mindfulness without closing their eyes or forcing themselves to sit still. This is very important for students who need the added sense of safety. Give students the option to keep their eyes open or closed during your mindful breathing activities. You can also do different focus activities. Guide your students to be in the present moment with mindfulness activities such as nature walks where they are focused on the presence of finding different elements of nature. Ask students to take a minute to notice everything the color red in their surroundings. Guiding students through the five senses in a mindful breathing activity is an exemplary way to show students how they can practice breathing and be in the present moment without the pressures of meditative stillness. Try this activity with students:


Mindful Breathing with Five Senses


Take a deep breath in and exhale out.

Place your eyes on a focal point in the room and notice the details of what you are looking at.

Take a deep breath in and exhale out.

Notice what you are hearing around you besides the sound of my voice.

Take a deep breath in and exhale out.

Notice what you smell in the air.

Take a deep breath in and exhale out.

Notice anything you taste in your mouth.

Take a deep breath in and exhale out.

Notice anything you are touching and what does that look like.

Take a deep breath in and exhale out.

 
 
 

18 Comments



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This post is a helpful reminder that mindfulness doesn’t always require closing your eyes, and that awareness can be practiced in everyday activities like walking, breathing, or even working. I think this makes mindfulness more practical for people with busy routines. I recently came across alpa insurance while comparing different options, and it reminded me how important it is to stay mindful when making financial decisions as well. Careful thinking and awareness always help reduce mistakes and improve overall choices in daily life.

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It’s refreshing to see mindfulness being explained in such an accessible way, especially the idea that it doesn’t always require formal practices like closing your eyes or sitting still. Standard 7: Privacy and Dignity Workbook Answers This perspective makes mindfulness feel more practical and easier to integrate into everyday activities, which can help more people benefit from it in real-life situations.

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Mình có lần lướt đọc mấy trao đổi trên mạng شيخ روحاني thì thấy nhắc nên cũng tò mò mở ra xem thử cho biết. Mình không tìm hiểu sâu جلب الحبيب chỉ xem qua trong thời gian ngắn để quan sát bố cục جلب الحبيب cách sắp xếp شيخ روحاني các mục và trình bày nội شيخ روحاني dung tổng thể. Cảm giác là các phần được trình bày khá gọn, các Berlinintim mục rõ ràng nên đọc lướt cũng không bị rối Berlinintim với mình như شيخ روحاني vậy là đủ để nắm tin cơ bản rồi. جلب الحبيب


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I liked the idea that mindfulness doesn’t require closing your eyes, especially the way the article describes bringing awareness into everyday activities rather than treating it as something separate or formal. The emphasis on noticing surroundings while staying present felt practical, because it makes the practice feel more accessible in real situations like walking, working, or even just pausing during a busy day. It made me wonder whether people find it easier to stay consistent with mindfulness when it’s integrated into routine moments rather than set aside as a specific exercise.

It also made me think about how attention and focus work in other areas of life too, where managing complex tasks or long projects sometimes leads people to seek…

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