Living a conscious lifestyle is not about giving up thinking altogether in favor of sensory experience. Instead, it’s about finding the balance between the two aspects of experience so that you are not pulled too far in either direction. Normally our working lives create stress and encourage problem-solving and thinking; that’s why it’s so important to find activities to redress the balance. Below are just a few ways to embrace mindfulness.
How to embrace mindfulness in your lifestyle
1 – Walk outside in nature
All of this, working from home can be stressful. Basically, it means being in an enclosed space for most of the day engaged in cognitive activities, activities that normally involve thinking and problem-solving. Without realizing it, we have become unable to escape from this condition, even if we change rooms or try to take some time. Practicing mindfulness helps us to get out of our own headspace. Venturing out into nature is the best antidote. Walk among the fresh oxygen-breathing leaves and enjoy the autumn sunshine on your face. Soon you will feel embodied again.
2 – Schedule digital downtime
In this manic digital age, downtime is so very important. If we are tuned into our phones and laptops all the time, it can be easy to shut out the real world around us. What’s more, engaging with the digital environment stimulates our minds and makes it difficult to switch off, even when we switch off our devices. Make a time in the day to be completely free from digital interruptions and do something completely different. Using a Self Storage facility for items you don’t need around can also create a healthy living environment to relax in.
3 – Vary your meditations
When people think of meditation, they normally think of someone sitting in a lotus position with some incense burning. This can be off-putting for some who might not be drawn to that style. The good news is that there are many meditation styles to choose from, and all of them can help you retreat from the thinking mind and develop your senses more. Try a body scan. All you have to do is lay down and pay attention to each part of your body; in turn, doing so will send healing energy to the focus areas allowing you to feel instead of think.
4 – Get into the zone
When athletes talk about the zone, they’re talking about that state of mind where you are relaxed and alert, without intrusive thoughts – you are completely focused in the present moment. You may not be an athlete, but you can still access this zone whenever you like with a few useful techniques. The next time you feel overwrought with thoughts, take on a passive activity such as reading or playing a video game; by engaging the problem-solving aspect of your mind, you will start to sense other things more clearly
5 – Practice mindfulness
Our thinking problem-solving minds can take over our lives very easily and make us feel stressed and worried. That’s why it’s so important to practice mindfulness as often as possible. You can do it right now by bringing awareness to your immediate activity – even if it’s reading. Paying attention to the moment-to-moment experience is the same as living a conscious and sensory-rich life – in a way, this is all you need.
