How do I incorporate Mindful Living into my life

Today I’m sharing a few simple steps to help you life more mindfully, bringing calm, self-awareness, and a little more ease to your world.

Here’s some ideas for you to try, or you can adapt to suit you. You don’t have to do them all or in any particular order.

1. Establish a Routine

Even if you resist a routine, they can be incredibly helpful when establishing a more mindful approach to life. Create a routine that works for you and includes mindfulness practices like yoga, meditation (seated or moving), mindful meals, and reflection. For example, incorporate a five minute stretch and mindful breathing practice before your morning shower. It’s easy, quick but has huge benefits for focus and concentrate, and bringing a moment of groundedness that sets you up for the day.

2. Practice Mindful Breathing

Take a few moments each day to focus on your breath. Inhale deeply, hold for a few seconds, and then exhale slowly, try for twice as long as the in breath. This practice can help ground you in the present moment. I love to do this at bedtime as it helps me sleep and can be practiced in bed, which adds no time to your already busy schedule.

3. Engage Your Senses

During daily activities, pay attention to your senses. Notice the colours, smells, sounds, and textures around you. As well as how you’re feeling inside your body (interoception) and where your body is in space (proprioception). Engaging your senses can enhance your awareness and connection to the present moment and is amazing when you are feeling overwhelmed or irritable.

4. Limit Multitasking

Multitasking is a lie! We’ve been sold a false narrative that we must fill each and every day with busy busy busyness and to get it all done we have to do it all at the same time. Instead, focus on one task at a time. Multitasking can lead to feeling overwhelmed and distracted. By concentrating on a single activity, you become more aware of your thoughts and feelings. And you stand more chance of getting that task completed.

5. Incorporate Mindfulness into Movement

You can either do this through yoga, walking, or dancing to incorporate movement into your mindful practice. Or you can bring a mindful approach to simple every day tasks and chores. Focus on how your body feels and the sensations you experience as you move. It slow you down, gets us away from that sense of rushing, and can actually make tasks that are usually a bit dull more interesting.

6. Create Mindful Moments

Take micro-moments throughout your day to pause and check in with yourself. This can be as simple as taking a moment to breathe deeply or reflect on your feelings. You can ask yourself questions like ‘how am I feeling right now?’ ‘what sensations am I experiencing in my body?’ Place a hand on the chest or belly to aid with mindful breathing. You can also set reminders or incorporate as part of your routine, eg ‘after I brush my teeth in the mornings and evenings I’m going to check in with myself.’

7. Journal Your Experiences

Write, voice note, type, video about your thoughts and feelings regularly. Journaling in whatever way works for you can help you process emotions and increase awareness of patterns in your behaviour. Or help you identify when you get stressed or which situations make you anxious. Awareness is the first step towards making healthy change.

8. Limit Digital Distractions

We all know how energy sapping spending too long on socials can be. And how time seems to shift in the weirdest ways when we’re scrolling on our phones. It’s a no-brainer to reduce time spent on devices and social media. Create boundaries - such as times, places and people - where you won’t use technology. This will help you stay present in your daily life and interactions.

9. Cultivate Gratitude

Each day, take a little moment to reflect on what you are grateful for. This practice can shift your focus to positive aspects of your life, enhancing your overall mindfulness. I like to do this at the end of the day, when I’m reflecting on my parts that showed up that day, or things that went well or could’ve gone better.

Incorporating these practices into your life can create a more mindful existence, enhancing your overall well-being and connection to yourself and your surroundings. It could be the greatest gift you give yourself this year. You can find out more about working with me one to one on my coaching and therapy page.