Mindfulness is not some elusive state of being, that you only achieve through hours of deep meditation, on a mat on the floor, with your legs crossed, breathing deeply, burning incense and repeating mantras. If meditation’s not your thing, then try including at least one of the following in your day today.

• Stop and look up. How blue is the sky today or what shapes can you make out in the clouds
• Stop and look down. Take your shoes off and feel the earth beneath your bare feet, or feel the cool of tiles and the warmth of rugs
• Stop and watch children play, if you get the chance. Notice how they naturally know how to be mindful. I child in a sandpit is only thinking of the sand, how it feels, how it looks, how it behaves. We can learn a lot from kids
• Stop and watch how peacefully a cat sleeps (cause that’s what cats do best)
• Stop and close your eyes when you are next listening to music. (as long as you aren’t driving at the time). We often listen to music while we are doing other things, which is just fine but, when was the last time you just listened to music. Give yourself over to one song today and make it a good one
• Stop, lose yourself in a book. Even if you only find 10 or 15 minutes a day to do it but really allow yourself to get lost
• Stop for a few minutes, stand in the early morning or late afternoon sun and feel the warmth on your skin. Or stand in the cold wind and allow yourself to feel it chill you to the bones (but not literally of course)
• Stop and look at the colours of things around you. Really look. Which colours do you like or dislike. What feelings do they bring up in you?
• Stop and really actively listen to people. Let them finish and take a breath before you begin speaking
• Stop, let an argument go. Good debate is healthy but occasionally just let one go. Ask yourself, ‘do I want to be right, or do I want to be happy’?
• Stop and pause for a few moments in between tasks. Acknowledge what you have just achieved and turn your focus to what you are about to do.

 

It’s not hard to introduce little snippets of mindfulness into your day, and when you feel the benefits of these moments, you will be encouraged to include a little more tomorrow.

In everything you do, just do it

Being mindful is not mystical, it’s simply living moment to moment and seeing the little things in your day that remind you how precious each and every day is.