Micro Moments of Mindfulness
- Wellness urway
- 20 hours ago
- 3 min read
Micro - Moments of Mindfulness: Small Practices That Make a Big Difference
As I always say, mindfulness doesn’t have to be long, complicated, or time-consuming. In fact, the most powerful shifts often come from tiny pauses woven into everyday life. These “micro-moments” help calm the nervous system, reduce stress, and bring you back into the present , even on the busiest days.
Mindfulness needn’t be another thing to “do”, my invitation is to bring mindfulness into your daily life.
As we approach the busiest time of the year, I thought we could all do with a reminder of some simple but really effective mindfulness practices to help keep us grounded and in the present and the great thing about these is that they are all under 1 minute long. So absolutely NO excuse not to try them!
1. One-Breath Reset
Take one slow inhale and one long exhale.
Let your shoulders soften.
This pause signals safety to your body.
2. Quick Body Scan
Tune into the body.
Ask yourself: Where am I holding tension?
Relax or release one spot ~ even 5% more helps.
3. Mindful Sip
Slow down for the first sip of your drink.
Smell it.
Taste it.
Feel it.
Come back to the moment.
4. Longer Exhale
Inhale for 4, exhale for 6–8.
A longer exhale calms anxiety instantly.
Deep breath in, LONG breath out
5. Look Up (my personal fave)
Stop what you’re doing.
Look up or around.
Notice something around you ~ the sky, a tree, a colour, the birds (we notice so much when our heads are out of the screens)
A simple reset for a busy mind.
6. Hand on Heart
Place your hand over your chest or belly.
Breathe.
Feel your breath.
Repeat.
This creates a sense of comfort and grounding.
7. Pause Before Responding
Take one breath before replying to a message or comment.
Respond from clarity, not stress.
8. Feel Your Feet
Focus on the soles of the feet.
Notice the support beneath you.
Grounding the body grounds the mind.
9. One Moment of Gratitude
Think of one thing you genuinely appreciate right now.
Small gratitude shifts your emotional state fast.
10. 10 Seconds of Stillness
Stop, breathe, and do nothing for a moment.
Allow the stillness to filter through your body.
This micro-break resets your whole system.
Why These Moments Matter
These tiny practices are powerful because they’re easy, accessible, and interrupt stress in real time. You don’t need a meditation cushion or a quiet room ~ you just need a moment of awareness.
Start with one micro-practice today.
Let it anchor you.
Let it bring you back home to yourself.
Let me know what works for you.
Nicola xx
p.s. Join me tomorrow and for the next 12 days on instagram @nicolashannonwellnessurway, as I share tips and tools that I will be using over the Christmas season to help keep me calm and grounded.
Also, if you are interested in reducing stress in 2026 I am running a mindfulness based stress reduction 8 week programme in January. It will be online on Monday nights from 7pm to 9pm beginning on the 12th. There will be an in person event throughout the 8 weeks too. I have an early bird offer on if you book before Dec 21st. Here is the link to read all the information.
Comments