Does Mindfulness Ever Become Natural?

If you have been reading about mindful eating, you know many of the “rules” associated with it. Remove distractions, stop eating at your desk, turn the TV off, and focus on your food—these are all practices that can help you be more mindful of what you’re eating and how much you’re consuming. But what happens when you’re finally able to do all of those things without thinking about it? Does mindfulness ever become natural? Yes, it is possible for mindfulness to become second nature. Once you have established some basic mindful eating habits, you may find that you don’t have to think about them as much. You may still need to be intentional about some of the practices from time to time, but overall, you’ll likely find that they become easier and more automatic. Of course, establishing those mindful eating habits can take some time and effort. And it’s important to remember that there is no “right” way to eat mindfully. Everyone’s journey will be different. So, don’t get discouraged if it takes a little while to find what works for you. Just keep at it and be patient—mindfulness will come with time!

All Habits Begin with Routines

All habits, no matter what they are, start with routines. You decide what you want to change in your life and add it to your daily routine until it becomes a habit. That’s why it’s so important to be intentional about your routines—if you want to establish a habit, you need to make sure it’s part of your routine. The same goes for mindfulness. If you want to be more mindful of what you’re eating, you need to make it a part of your daily routine. That might mean setting aside time each day to eat without distractions or being more intentional about choosing healthy foods. Whatever it is, make sure it’s something you can do consistently.

The More You Practice, the Easier it Becomes

As you work more on your mindful eating routine, you will notice that it keeps getting easier and easier. You adjust to sitting quietly and focusing on your senses while you eat, journaling how each food makes you feel and paying more attention to your body’s cues for hunger and fullness. But it’s important to remember that there will still be times when mindful eating is a challenge. You may find yourself mindlessly snacking on unhealthy foods or overeating at a restaurant. But the more you practice, the easier it will become to return to your mindful eating habits. When you get to the point where even during meals you hadn’t intended to practice mindfulness, you did anyway, that is when you know it has started to become more natural to you.

Think of the Times When You Are Unconsciously Mindful

There are probably times in the day when you tend to be more mindful, without even realizing it. This might be when you are in the shower or brushing your teeth, and are focusing on the task at hand instead of other thoughts or worries. The same can work with mindfulness and eating. You may find that you are more mindful when you are cooking dinner or when you are eating a favorite food. These are moments when your focus is completely on the present moment, and you’re not thinking about anything else. Pay attention to these moments and try to replicate them during other meals. Perhaps you notice that when you eat with friends or family, you are more likely to be in the moment and less likely to overeat. This is because you are enjoying their company and the conversation, instead of focusing on your food. Make an effort to create more meals like this, where you can be mindful and enjoy the experience of eating with others.

Practice When You Have Distractions

Lastly, start practicing more mindful strategies even when you have distractions. Not just while eating, but while performing other tasks during the day. Maybe you set a timer for one minute and try to focus on your breath. Or maybe you try to notice five things you can see, four things you can touch, three things you can smell, two things you can hear, and one thing you can taste. The goal is to increase your mindfulness even when there are other things going on around you. This will help you to be more mindful in general and make it easier to be aware of your thoughts and feelings during meals.

It May Take Some Time

Don’t be discouraged if it takes a little while to establish your mindful eating habits. Just like any other habit, eating mindfully is a skill that takes time and practice to develop. But if you’re patient and keep at it, you’ll eventually find that mindfulness becomes more natural. So, if you’re wondering, “Does mindfulness ever become natural?” the answer is yes—it can! Just be patient and intentional about your journey. And soon enough, mindful eating will become second nature.

Conclusion

Mindful eating is a journey, not a destination. It may take some time to get used to the practice, but eventually, it will become more natural. Just be patient, and intentional, and keep at it!