“How can I bring more mindfulness into my everyday life?”
That’s one of the questions I get asked a lot.
Mindfulness has a way of sounding complicated, but it’s not.
Mindfulness is paying attention and being aware of the present moment. It’s a continuous process of touching life deeply. To be mindful means being alive, present, and aware of everyone around you and what you’re doing.
How often have you rushed out of your home without thinking of how you’d like your day to go?
And before you know it, something has wronged you and you lash out in anger, frustration, and rage.
Most of these reactions are impulsive and you never wanted to act that way.
You don’t have to be stuck in old patterns. Pausing to practice mindfulness for a few minutes at different times of the day can bring many benefits to your emotional and physical health.
Mindfulness can help you:
- Make fewer errors as you go about your daily activities.
- Keep you less overwhelmed even in stressful situations.
- Put you out of negative emotions, thoughts, and feelings.
Explore these five daily practices for being more mindful in your life:
Mindful wake up: Start your day with a purpose
As I wake up each morning, I smile knowing that I have another 24 hours. I hope to live in each moment and make the most out of my time.
We can start our day with a smile and determination to follow the path of love and light. Be aware that today is a fresh, new day, and you have 24 hours to enjoy it.
Your purpose for the day can be as simple as staying happy, grounded, and being kind-hearted towards people.
Before you get up from bed each day, make it a habit to do the following:
- Close your eyes and connect with your sensation. You can do this by sitting on a chair or your bed.
- We may like to take three deep and nourishing breaths to bring ourselves into mindfulness. Let the morning fill out being and awaken our intellects to the joy of a new day.
- You can do a few stretches to loosen up your joints as we prepare to start our day.
- Drinking a cup of warm water is also good for our system.
- Set your intention for that day. Ask yourself: “How can I feel more connected and fulfilled today? What quality do I need to develop? What do I need to take better care of myself?”
Once you’ve set your intention for that day, pause and take a few minutes throughout that day to reflect on it. Notice how you behave and the quality of your communication and mood.
Watch the mind
About 95% of the brain runs on autopilot. These default brain signals cause us to relapse into old behavior and act on impulse before we realize what we’re doing.
However, through self-observation, mindfulness can automatically be streamed into our lives. With mindfulness, you are now in control, you’re observant, and you do intentional actions.
So how can you become more mindful:
- Start listening to the voice in your head, especially if you get any repetitive patterns.
- Be intentional about what you do! If you want to meditate, for example, set an alarm or put the mat in a visible place so you’ll always be reminded of it.
- Don’t believe any of your thoughts. Watch and question them. That way, they’ll lose their hold over you.
One thing at a time
For the past decade, everyone boasts of “multitasking” as a skill on their resumes
and job application form. This world has us racing at a pace faster than a cheetah could run – but are we happier?
Don’t get it twisted, multitasking doesn’t help us become more productive, it helps us get busier. Trying to do multiple things at the same time slows and drains us.
Many of us rarely allow ourselves to slow down and be fully present for the precious moments of our lives. And before you know it, 24 hours is wasted.
Try changing your focus to doing one thing at a time. Physically closing down helps us take tasks with full awareness.
You’re less prone to committing mistakes or forgetting details. You’ll find out that you become more efficient without feeling tense.
Do one thing at a time and be there fully!
Observe your surroundings
I like doing this when I’m outdoors. I focus on what’s happening around me. I observe the traffic, the birds chirping, the people walking by, etc.
You should too. When you go out take notice of the environment and the events happening around you. Things like the sun on your face, the wind blowing your air, or even a beautiful flower.
Now you’re wondering why this is important.
These simple exercises will give you access to the realm of mindfulness rather than sitting down for hours to meditate or reading long self-help books.
I find it easier to practice mindfulness in my daily activities so I can train my mind to stay posting, feel happier, and attract good things.
Mindful eating
A great time to focus on the present mermen tie when we eat. Most of the time, we don’t pay attention to our food because we’re busy watching a YouTube video or reading a book.
Eating is a pleasurable experience and doing it mindfully is important. Research shows that when we bring our full attention to our body, we can nourish our hunger, digest food better, and get more vitamins that aids digestion.
Close your eyes, slow down, and take deep breaths before every meal. If you’re trying a new meal, you can listen to your body by experiencing the taste, texture, flavors, and how much we enjoy it.
Key Takeaway
Mindfulness requires practice – no one gets perfect after the first try. Your mind is likely to wander repeatedly.
But with consistent effort, you can train yourself to become mindful and you’ll enjoy benefits like good relationships, healthier living, better mental health, and happiness.
I hope these 5 tips give you as much joy as it gives me!
