The philosophy of yoga has time and again emphasized the importance of being present. But it can be really hard, especially when you have a lot on your plate. You may try to be mindful and present as much as possible, but let’s be honest: it feels like check-marks rather than slow, deep breaths. It's just not realistic to be present every minute of every day. But incorporating a few minutes of mindfulness at regular intervals can go a long way.
Here are a few ways you can do it:
1. Set an alarm as a reminder. It's so easy to get caught in your daily routine and just forget to take those few minutes off. Set alarms to take a cue to pause and take deep breaths before you dive back in.
2. Tune into sensation. There’s a reason yoga poses shift your attention into the present moment—there’s so much sensation happening in the body. It’s truly hard for the mind to wander to relive the past or plan the future. Guess what? You don't have to be lying on a yoga mat to experience this calmness. It could be simply about feeling the air circulating around your cheeks, or sunlight falling on your face. It's just an excuse to bring yourself back to the present, even if it's for a short moment. But you don’t have to be stretched out on a yoga mat to experience this.
3. Focus on your food while you eat. Most of us don't do it. We eat while watching a movie or in between work. We usually don't designate a time to simply eat. We multitask. Leave your gadgets away and simply focus on eating.
4. Use your commute. With work from home these days, your "commute" might just be from your bed to your desk but you probably have a lot of errands, etc. Driving is one of those times we have to be mindful of what we’re doing or even when we are out for a run. Why not use it as a time to check in with your breath and be present, too? Appreciate the sound of what's near you, even if it is just a lot of concrete and taillights.
5. Create morning and evening rituals. One of the most effective ones is definitely, journalling. Write one happiest moment at the end of each day, then close your eyes and take a few deep, appreciative breaths. It could be your ritual. Adding it to your schedule makes mindfulness a priority and sets the tone of how you feel during the day.
How do you incorporate moments of mindfulness throughout your day?
© Photo by William Farlow on Unsplash
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