Let’s be honest, we could all benefit from being more mindful. But in today’s fast-paced life, it can sometimes seem unattainable. It’s not! Anyone can do it. The four quick and easy tips below will help you stay present, thoughtful, and aware every day.
Not only will establishing a mindfulness routine help you feel better emotionally, but it may even support overall health. Let’s dive into how you can get started today.
1. Focus on One Thing at a Time
Not too long ago, multi-tasking was viewed as a positive attribute. If you could get more than one thing done at once, why not? Well, we are now realizing that trying to perform multiple tasks at once takes us away from being present and can drain your energy and focus much faster than if you stuck to one task.
A quick and easy way to bring more mindfulness into your daily routine is to focus on only one project at a time. If you have ten things to get done at work, try prioritizing. Put your full attention into one task until it is complete. Being mindfully present is a great way to get the job done to your best ability. You may even find enjoyment in the project you fully immerse yourself in instead of mindlessly rushing through a to-do list.
This goes for other areas in your life as well. Find time to put down the phone, put away the laptop and just focus on those around you. Life is meant to be enjoyed and being mindful and present will help you do that.
2. Make Time to Just Be
When life gets busy it can almost feel like we are just living to complete our to-do list. This doesn’t allow for any time to slow things down. Set aside a couple of minutes to just be present and literally do nothing. Sit in a comfortable room and be mindful of what is going on around you, being present with the here and now. Doing this daily is a great way to train yourself to be mindful in other aspects of your life as well.
3. Practice Mindful Walking
Getting outside and walking is excellent for overall health and it is even better when you add some mindfulness to your morning or afternoon stroll. The great thing about this mindfulness tip is that if you already take a daily walk, you can just incorporate this into it. During your walk, take notice of how the ground feels, how your clothes feel as you walk and what your surroundings look like. Notice the buildings, the flowers, and all of the noises. If you’re not sure how to get started, try this walking meditation to you remain present, clear your head, and set the tone for the rest of your day.
4. Use Your Commute to Be Mindful
One of the best ways to add some mindfulness into your busy schedule is during your morning commute. This is a wonderful time to practice being mindful and doesn’t take any time out of your day. It can also help reduce the stress of dealing with traffic on your way to or from work.
Take a couple of deep breaths and try to be mindful of your environment as you drive. This is especially useful if your daily commute causes you stress. As you take a deep breath in, focus on how the breath feels and where you feel it. Do you feel it in your lungs? Maybe you feel it in your nose. Simply observe how the breath feels as you breathe in and out. That’s all there is to it! Practicing these mindful breaths during your daily commute is one of the easiest ways to add mindfulness into your daily life without putting much effort in at all. Another benefit? You may find that you start your workday in a more relaxed state ready to conquer your daily goals!
Conclusion
Mindfulness is much easier to incorporate into your life than you may think. Try each of these tips and see which one works best for you. With a little practice being mindful through many situations that arise in your day will come naturally.