If you have been around here for a while, you will have heard about the importance of mindfulness and living in alignment with the present moment. Yes this might sound simple – just live in the moment and it is in many ways. However, simple does not mean easy! Sometimes the simple things are the hardest things to master 🙂
When life appears to be speeding by or you feel like you are living on autopilot, stopping to pay attention and experience the present moment, can be challenging. Being present, allows us to bring awareness and attention to this moment. It helps us to start to realise that what we are experiencing here and now is enough.
Subsequently, I have put together the following list of ideas for practising mindfulness in your daily life.
8 Ideas for Practising Mindfulness
Basically, you can practice mindfulness in two ways –
- informally, or
- formally.
Informal practice involves bringing mindful awareness to your daily activities (i.e. exercising, chores or any other action you find yourself in).
Formal practice involves taking specific time out to intentionally sit, lie, walk or stand and focus on the breath, body sensations, sounds, smells, tastes, thoughts and emotions. Following are 9 ideas for practicing being present and are a combination of informal and formal practices.
1. Create a Mindfulness Practise Time
Mindfulness is a practise. Just like sport, a musical instrument or anything else we want to master, we need to practise it. Yes it takes time, energy and commitment. Subsequently, you might like to identify a time each day to practise mindfulness. As I have said for many years now to the clients I work with, “the moment I think I have mindfulness, is the most I have lost it.”
2. Listen to Your Favourite Song
What is your favourite song at the moment? I have a two – This is Me and These Wings. When I am listening to these two songs, I am listening to the words, sensations that are happening within my body and any emotions. When I do this, I feel very present. I can also dance to these songs and bring awareness to thoughts, feelings or sensation as I am dancing.
What are your favourite songs? Next time you listen to them, you might like to notice how you feel before you start listening to the song and then how you feel after the song finishes. If you do, did you notice any changes?
3. Celebrate the Small Joys
If you follow my facebook page or instagram account, you will know I love walking on the beach, watching the waves and being immersed in nature. I quite often take photos and share them as they give me burst of joy and connect me in to the present. What do you enjoy doing? Do you celebrate them? If so, how? Remember –
“While it may seem small, the ripple effects of small things is extraordinary” ~ Matt Bevan
4. Be Grateful
Have you ever noticed how you feel when you stop and feel grateful for your life?
There are a number of ways you can pause to be grateful, including –
- Creating a gratitude jar and writing 3 things you are grateful for at the end of the day,
- Journalling the 5 things you are grateful for each day,
- Letting someone know how they have helped you in your life. For example – you could write a letter, send them a card or make a phone call.
“Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.” ~ Eckhart Tolle.
5. Do a Mindful Check-in
When you wake up in the morning, take a few moments to do a mindful check-in. Check-in with how your body is feeling, any emotions that are present or thoughts that are on your mind. By starting the day mindfully, you prepare for a greater sense of calm and equanimity throughout your day. You can also do a mindful check-in throughout the day.
6. Become Aware of Your Language
Becoming aware of your language is powerful. A few years ago, I came across this clip that sums it up very well. As Mahatma Gandhi has be reported as saying –
“Happiness is when what you think, what you say and what you do are in harmony.”
7. Invest the Time to Reflect on Your Day
Journalling has helped me create a great deal of insight in my world. There are many ways to do it, however one way (which is also backed up by research) is the What Went Well or Three Blessings Exercise. At the end of the day, simply write down three things that went went during the day and why they went well. Doing this consistently, can reduce stress and increase happiness and life satisfaction. Click here to read more.
8. Slow Down and Listen to Your Body
Your body is a source of wisdom. One of the best ways to be more mindful is to tune in to and listen to your body. What is it telling you? Is it saying to slow down and have some time out or is it saying it needs something nourishing to eat? Or maybe it it saying go for a walk or run along the beach? Whatever it is, listen to your body – it will let you know when it needs energy and when it needs rest.
Over to You…
What mindfulness practice do you use? Is it on the list above? If not, feel free to share other ideas for practising mindfulness below.
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