Mind-Full or Mindful.
- rishikayoga22
- Jun 18, 2021
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 20, 2021
11 ways to lead a more mindful day.
I often feel like contacting the SEO manager of “Mindfulness”, for, he/she seems to have managed the greatest coup of our times.
Sambhãv (Persistent state of equanimity): A word that was all prevalent in our scriptures for as long as we can date back, has seen the most extensive rebranding in the recent years. The comeback of this concept can put that of Robert Downey Jr. to shame.
While we all know how important it is to practice mindfulness, HOW we can practice it, still remains a mystery to most people. If you’re the one looking for ways to practice this “subtle art of giving life a chance”, you’ve landed just where you should be.
) RISE & STRETCH: Never underestimate the power of an early morning stretch routine. Whether it be stretching your arms out to reach your cup of Coffee or Tea, or getting into an imaginary fist fight with your alarm clock, or crawling to your bathroom, make it all count. My favorite yoga postures that help with mindfulness are as follows:
a. Cat/Cow
b. Balasana (Child’s Pose)
c. Pawan Muktasana
d. Padmasana
2. ) DO NOTHING: Carve out time, even if it is as little as three minutes each day. Make small but sure shot beginnings. Don’t let the word Meditation scare you or weigh you down. All you need to do is find a comfortable chair/couch/rug and stay still for a few minutes. Say nothing, Do Nothing. JUST BREATHE.
3. )UNI TASK: I grew up loving Kamal Hassan’s role in Chachi 420 simply because that character could multitask at a robotic level. For the longest time, I admired myself for being able to text, listen to music, mentally rehearse my dance routine, talk over the phone and look for my sunglasses, while I was Driving. I would come back home feeling like a superwoman but only, with all my energy drained out. The beauty of Uni Tasking lies in doing any of these monotonous, mundane activities, ONE AT A TIME.
4. ) JOURNAL: My greatest strength in the toughest of my times (Other than my asana practice of course) has been Journaling. Simply putting down your thoughts, regrets about the past and worries about the future included, can make you feel a lot less stressed about it. My idea of journaling evolved when I started writing notes to myself each night, saying exactly those words I wanted to hear all day. The neuro linguistic pathway that it created, has had a tremendous impact on my life.
5. ) GET GURUÉD: Getting a Guru need not necessarily mean following a religious path. Your “guru” could be a friend, family member or even a health and fitness expert you follow on social media. Mindfulness isn’t about isolation. Find someone who values presence and attention and spend more time with them.
6. ) WATER PLANTS: Watering plants is the best way to stay grounded. The company of your plants not just fills your lungs with oxygen (Oh! the world we’re living in today and the fight for oxygen) but also fills your heart with positivity. Watering your plants is therapeutic. Don’t just water plants. PLANT plants.
7. ) CREATE NO PHONE ZONES: You knew this was coming, right? Your device is a distraction, and not just so when you are behind the wheel or in a meeting. If you’re constantly checking emails, updating your status and snapping photos, that means your actual life isn’t getting 100% of your attention. Pick your sacred times and places — dinners with friends & family, two hours before bed, your morning run — and proactively put away your phone so you can truly experience those moments.
8. ) LISTEN: To Music, To White noise, To cars honking, To crowds, To birds chirping, To the pressure cooker, To the construction work…basically, listen to everything. When we stop listening intently is when we stop being mindful.
9. ) CHEW YOUR FOOD SLOWLY: And enjoy the texture and the taste of what you’re eating! You’ll be more satisfied with less food and more likely to notice other subtleties throughout the day.
10. ) MAKE YOUR BED: Your intent just before you hit the bed, is what defines your quality of sleep. Keep your smart phone and tablet out of reach. The light from them messes up your sleep pattern. Get a good night’s sleep for it’s the dreams and the want of fulfilling them that keeps us all alive.
11. ) SLOW DOWN: Step out. Smell a flower. Look at the skies. Drink water one sip at a time and SMILE. Slowing down in a world that is constantly hustling, is the greatest gift to your own self.
The BONUS one: Pick a Paper, Canvas, Sheets…whatever you can lay your hands on and some colors. Explore the artist within you. Paint, Doodle, Draw or simply throw colors on your base material. Do not judge your art, for you need not be MF Hussain or Picasso to be an artist.
Let the artist inside of you, inspire the artists around you. If you need an audience, feel free to share your work with us on :
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