Practise Mindfulness in Daily Life

We are indeed very busy. We spend our days completing tasks or juggling multiple jobs. Suddenly realise we don’t have time to relax. I understand how you feel. I’ve been there before. The pandemic taught me to slow down and practise mindfulness.

The ability to stay in the present moment is defined as mindfulness. You concentrate your thoughts on what is happening right now. The power of mindfulness has been shown to reduce anxiety, depression, improve sleep, and reduce stress.

Mindfulness is a practice that must be practised and developed over time. There will be numerous distractions. I find happiness, joy, and meaningful values in my life by practising mindful living. My style may not be appropriate for you, but I hope it serves as a good guide.

#1 Practise mindful eating

How long does it take you to finish a meal? My friend ate a plate of spaghetti in under fifteen minutes! Your schedule is jam-packed. You don’t have time to waste. You spend most of your time at your desk, eating, watching YouTube videos, or responding to emails.

Remove all distractions! Don’t eat while watching TV or scrolling through your Facebook feeds. It may appear to be efficient, but you are missing out on the opportunity to enjoy the meal.

Start with this weekend. Try making your own food and eating it on purpose. Take your time chewing and enjoying each bite. Slowing down when eating aids digestion. My method is to chew 35 times before swallowing each spoon of food.

#2 Spend time being yourself

The majority of us are addicted to our electronic devices. We are constantly checking our Facebook feeds, emails, and TikTok videos. As the day progresses, we become disconnected and unhappy. We have become more susceptible to false information and bad news. We lose touch with our inner strength. Moreover, we also lose our ability to consciously create our future. Make time for self-reflection.

Although nothing beats a good mindfulness meditation, it can be difficult to fit 30 minutes to an hour into our hectic schedules. Instead, I use the tea ceremony to cultivate a micro practice. While enjoying the moment, I would brew a perfect cup of tea.

#3 Get out of the house

Spending time outside your home does not require you to travel far. All you need to do is place your phone in your bag. Then go for a walk in a park or green space to reconnect with nature. Take note of what you see: the weather, the sky and clouds, as well as what you hear and smell.

From my previous office, I enjoyed watching the fishermen at work by the seashore. I’m always amazed by the animals I see on my morning walks. Our world is lovely.

#4 Concentrate on a single task

I used to believe that juggling tasks would be efficient. I believed that doing more at once would increase productivity. But I was mistaken. Research shows that doing more than one thing at once makes mistakes more likely and takes more time to get things done.

Begin by making a priority list. Take on just one task. Concentrate on the task at hand. Take a short break before beginning the next task. It completes tasks faster than you can imagine. This strategy has proven to improve my performance.

#5 Show gratitude

Life is full of both unpleasantness and happiness. Enjoy life as it comes your way. Accepting and acknowledging disappointment, sadness, and anger for what they are is healthy. When you are conscious of how you react to your feelings, whether happy or sad, you become more in tune with yourself.

When we practise gratitude, we direct our attention to what is good in our lives right now. It would prevent us from reliving the past. Overthinking has an impact not only on our health but also on the well-being of our loved ones. By practising mindfulness, we are creating a more positive future.

#6 Engage in active listening

When others speak, our minds try to come up with responses. Have you ever been in a situation like this?

We tune out about halfway through the speaker’s speech. Try active listening the next time you have a conversation with someone. Concentrate your entire attention on the other person. Listen with your ears, your heart, and your intuition. You will notice a difference in the quality of your conversations.

If you have the time, long meditations are excellent mindfulness activities. It is easier for me to incorporate these simple steps into my daily activities. I can train my mind to be more positive, happier, and in control of what I do.