When you hear the word mindfulness, do you picture an athletic figure, sitting cross-legged as they meditate serenely in front of a picturesque backdrop?

They can certainly be practicing mindfulness. But there’s no need for perfection in mindfulness.

At its core, mindfulness is simply awareness: noticing what you're experiencing in your body, and how you're feeling emotionally and mentally, in the present moment.

With this awareness, comes the opportunity to make choices in how you respond to situations.

Kindness and compassion are also important aspects of mindfulness.

You can set aside some time for formal mindfulness practices, such as meditation.

But you can also practice mindfulness in daily life, by doing your normal activities mindfully.