Simple Steps to Stay Mindful Everyday

Rebecca Lewis May 27, 2014

Many of us are too occupied with their daily responsibilities and obligations that they rarely have time to connect with their inner selves, focus and stay mindful. Fortunately, there are simple ways to stay mindful each day, despite your busy schedule.

Begin your day with a quiet reflection.

Start your day with mindfulness by giving yourself some time to reflect and plan your activities for the day. Begin each morning in quiet reflection. Find a serene place where you can be with yourself freely, away from distractions like the TV, your laptop or your mobile phone. Your ‘quiet time’ could be your morning coffee, a short walk around the neighbourhood, or a few minutes in the garden.

Slow down.

The next time you notice yourself speeding up, slow down and take a few deep breaths. Rushing things can lead to burnout and exhaustion. So take it slowly but surely. If this means doing your tasks ahead of schedule or breaking down a big task to smaller ones and creating a timeline, do it.

Acknowledge negative thought patterns.

Don’t try to shut negative thoughts out from your mind. The more you ignore/repress them, the more they get overwhelming. A more helpful approach is to observe negative thoughts with curiosity. Try to understand where they are coming from. Remember, you are not responsible for what enters your mind, but what you do with them.

Play and have fun.

No matter how busy you are, try to engage in something that gives you pure fun and enjoyment. Let the ‘kid’ in you explore, laugh and play. Dance, sing, draw, paint, take ‘selfies’ – do whatever that is that gives you pleasure.

Reset your day.

Feeling burned out? Reset your day – physically and emotionally. Stop what you are doing. Gaze at the sky, stretch your arms wide open, and take a deep breath. Give thanks. And be optimistic about the rest of the day.

Let go of the small nuisances.

Don’t let them turn a good day to a bad one. Know that imperfections are part of life. If something didn’t turn out well, accept it, learn from it and move on. Proceed to your next task and don’t let the previous mistake or failure affect the outcome of your new endeavour.

Let your mind wander.

Mind-wandering may seem like the opposite of mindfulness. But the essence of mindfulness, according to research, is the act of noticing that your mind has wandered, and then non-judgmentally, lovingly and gently, and then bringing it back.

Do it whilst you wait.

Practise mindfulness whenever you have a chance – like when you are waiting for your turn at the doctor’s office. Whilst waiting could be the biggest source of frustration, it could be a great avenue to practise mindfulness. On moments like this, shift your attention to your breath, and allow everything to just be.

Remind yourself.

Hang a big reminder on your wall about staying mindful. Or set your mobile phone to remind you of this essential activity. As time goes by, practising mindfulness will become a part of your daily routine.