Mindfulness. Seems like a contradiction in what you’re aiming for, doesn’t it? After all, most of our minds are full. Too full. And that’s the problem when it comes to having peace of mind, which leads to a peaceful, happier, healthier life.

The graphic below will tell you tons more about mindfulness. Including (get to the bottom) why this really is so critical for you being well. If you’re not going to scroll and look at it, at least note these points: Mindfulness can reduce your risk of heart disease, fights chronic disease, helps IBS and reduces rheumatoid arthritis. It also lessens the effects of colds and flu, slows HIV, improves sleep and can even help you lose weight. Why are we lining up for expensive, often risky drugs when all this is right at our hands? Today. Free. Is it that hard? (Yes, that was a bit of rant. It makes me a teensy bit crazy that we keep searching for the next miracle drug, that will cost your life savings, when health is at hand a lot of the time.)

For me, mindfulness is more interwoven throughout my day, which makes it easy. (And you know I like easy.) It simply was a habit I built, but now it’s pretty natural. When I’m doing some simple, everyday activity — like washing the dishes or taking a bath or being with Linus (ze dogster) out in nature — I focus on what is right around me. Not the 4 zillion things that want to run rampant in my brain. In effect, I empty my mind of all but the present.

Take washing the dishes as an example: I feel the water, smell the (natural) dish soap, notice the different dishes, hear the squeak of clean, gaze out the window to enjoy the back yard. Sometimes I simply am … doing the dishes. Feeling quiet and at peace. Kind of nothing running through my brain at all. But I’ll have to say it’s easier, at the start, to put something in your brain because, otherwise, it will put things there without you hardly noticing. Before — and sometimes, still, when I forget to be more mindful — I would have used that time to cover my to do list, worry to death some relatively minor thing, fuss about … who knows what. Guess which one feels better?

Mindfulness also can come in meditation, as suggested by the infographic. I encourage you to do that, too, but what I like about mindfulness woven into your normal life is that you will more likely end up doing it. Regularly. No need to make time for it. The time is right there already.

There’s also a mindfulness app that rings a bell at times you set up. It’s a good reminder. Am I being mindful right now? (Oops, the answer too often is: “Nope.”) Okay, let me be more purposefully mindful for a bit.

Everyday health enhancement and protection is yours. Just.this.easy.