Mindful living, as we have already established, is a state of being that entails being aware of yourself and your surroundings. There are many ways to achieve this and thus, better yourself and feel much happier and content.
One of the first steps to accomplishing this goal is by practising it with your mind and body before you make any changes to your lifestyle and habits. In this article, we will show you how to do this by proposing practical tips in the form of exercises for mindful living.
Breathing
Breathing is the first step towards achieving mindful living, and we cannot stress this enough. You might ask yourself now, well, we are all already breathing, otherwise we wouldn’t be reading this article. You are breathing to survive, meaning that you are not breathing for a specific purpose.
Breathing is the easiest thing you can do, it’s free after all and you’re doing it anyway. Breathing in a specific way can help calm you down if you feel overwhelmed or upset, so now let’s practice it together.
Take a deep breath through your nose, count to five, then breathe out through your mouth. Repeat this five times (or more if necessary). Try to relate to every breath, focusing on its movement from the air, to your nose, to your lungs, then through your mouth and to the air again.
Your head probably feels lighter and even your vision is clearer. Try to do this once or twice a day, along with every time you feel under-the-weather and see how this practice improves your well-being in the long run.
Grounding
No, we won’t ground you, we are not your parents! Grounding is a technique, among the most helpful ones for mindful living as it makes you hyper-aware of your surroundings and makes you truly live in the moment. Grounding is also recommended for people who suffer from panic attacks as it can potentially stop them before they set in.
Much like breathing, it’s free to do; it only requires your eyes and your attention. Look around your room right now. What do you see? Perhaps your furniture, windows, doors, little trinkets etc. Good. Now name them all in your mind, one by one.
This might seem silly, but it actually helps. Name every single object around you like “window, door, picture frame…” until you run out of objects. You may notice that your vision and focus have improved. If you are currently anxious, this might also relieve your anxiety and slow down a fast-pacing heart.
Do this exercise once a day and you will notice that you are much more aware of your surroundings.
Silent Meditation
Silent meditation is another good way to become more aware of the moment and of life in general. There is no right way to do it, but we will give you a few steps to follow if you have never done it before.
First, sit comfortably. For some people, that entails sitting on a chair, but you may sit elsewhere or do the lotus position on the floor, whatever feels most comfortable to you. Then, put your hands in front of you (or on your knees if in the lotus position) and close your eyes.
Do the breathing exercise we mentioned until you feel calm, concentrate and focus on your breathing. You can then breathe normally or continue to do the exercise. This is where the fun begins. You should now try to visualise. We recommend starting by choosing a relaxing spot, let’s say a beach on a tropical island.
Imagine the sand kissing your feet, the smooth and warm grains feel like velvet against your skin. Now look the waves crashing on the beach. Count each one and listen to their melody. They come and go in perfect even intervals. Smell the salt in the air and the blossoming trees around you. You’re there, you’re in the moment.
You can use this mental image or you can substitute it for another one that brings you more pleasure. Go to this mental space once a day if you can or at least a couple times a week.
Walk in Nature
This last practice combines all the other ones, perhaps representing the ultimate mindful living practice. Rather than imagine a beautiful place in your silent meditation, just go there. Get dressed and walk to a place in nature and do it alone.
On your way there, practice grounding, name the things you see on the street and you will notice that there is hidden beauty in places you thought you knew. Once you reach this magical place in nature, turn off your phone or put it on silent, let nothing disturb you.
Next, take off your shoes if you can. It’s said that walking barefoot really energises you and makes you feel one with nature. Truly look, and sense, and smell. Do it purposefully and nature will reveal itself to you in all its majesty.
If you have been there before, pick a trek you’ve never been on; don’t be afraid to explore. Look at all the beautiful trees and flowers, take on their aroma and touch their pretty leaves. Stay there until you can and go on other walks as much as you can and you’ll notice the positive changes.
