How to Be More Mindful in Everyday Life
Mindfulness is a buzzword today, and some people may misunderstand its true meaning simply because it’s become so trendy. One aspect of mindfulness is being tuned into the moment, but the true meaning extends far beyond that. Mindfulness is also about treating yourself, the people around you (whether they’re people you know or strangers), and even the environment with patience, respect, and understanding. It’s a way to live your life, not just a thing to do now and then — and in my own life, I’ve seen how it can change relationships, both with the people I love, and my relationship with the world and my surroundings.
How to Be in the Moment
In a day and age when pretty much everything we do is a form of distraction (texting on our smartphones, looking info up online, talking to friends on social media), it’s hard to be in the moment. Talking to your friends online can feel like we’re participating in the moment, but it’s really distracting from what’s happening around us — that interesting debate between two people on the subway, the delicious sushi you ordered that you’re barely tasting, or the rainbow that’s about to fade forever.
There are so many times that I’ve been traveling somewhere new, and I feel tempted to video record and take pictures of everything I’m seeing — but when I do, do I ever go back and scroll through those photos enough to make it worth it? Once I realized I was “saving memories for later” by focusing on taking photos for “later,” and not allowing myself to enjoy the moment in the moment, I realized the disservice I was doing to myself. I think about all the concerts I’ve been to, and how I was so focused on getting THE best picture of the stage — that I completely turned out what song was playing. I paid money for those tickets — but I wasn’t even really there to enjoy it!
Being mindful applies to more than just the big moment, though — they’re applicable at home, at work, even while you’re just falling asleep at night and taking stock of your day and the day to come. Here are a few easy ways to be “in the moment.”
- Do one thing at a time: Multi-tasking may make it feel like we’re getting a lot done at once, but what we’re really doing is unnecessarily draining our energy. Instead, do one thing at a time — focus on it, do it well, and then finish it so you can move on to the next thing.
- Take photos (but with intention): I mentioned how photography can be a dangerous means of pulling you away from important moments — but I also wholly believe that, when done with intention, photography forces us to focus on what’s happening in the moment to pay attention to every detail of a scene, so long as we don’t let it carry us away. One shot, one video, just to capture a brief moment of what makes you happy, something we want to remember — without feeling the need to record the entire scene, for the entire time. Especially by capturing candids, we can find the beauty in even mundane moments, which helps us remember the moment, but also to be more appreciative of what’s happening around us.
- Pay Attention: Challenge yourself to pay attention when someone’s talking to you or when you’re reading a book, listening to a podcast, or watching a movie. If you feel your mind drifting, make a conscious effort to refocus.
Being in the moment can be tricky because we have to pay attention to what’s happening without thinking about it too much. For example, if you’re dancing at a wedding, you may have inner dialogue that goes, “Do I look awkward? Is this how you dance to this song? Should I be embarrassed?” (Not that I’m speaking from experience…) Yes, you’re totally focused on what’s happening, but you’re not enjoying it. To truly be in the moment, you have to get out of your head and simply take in what’s happening and how you’re part of it, without judgment.
Natural Ways to Cope with Anxiety
I’m someone who struggles a lot with my anxiety, so it’s easy to get caught up in how I’m feeling and, in turn, miss out on the moment in front of me (maybe that explains why I always want to take pictures to “save for later”?). It doesn’t do anyone any good, though — and I’ve been exploring ways to keep my anxiety at bay so that I can be more mindful of my surroundings, rather than how I’m feeling about them, or how they’re worrying me. Here are three natural ways to handle anxiety that have also helped me, so that we can all get back to appreciating our lives:
- Eat a Healthier Diet: What we eat can impact our serotonin levels, which has a big effect on mood. To keep your serotonin levels balanced, cut out added sugar and add more veggies and lean protein to your diet. Because I have a ravenous sweet tooth, I prefer to keep quick, small snacks on hand like grapes or green beans, because I can quell my cravings without going straight to candy.
- Get Regular Exercise: Working out has helped to reduce my overall anxiety and stress levels, especially when I have a good mix of both cardio and weight lifting involved (as well as the occasional yoga session, for when I’m feeling especially pooped). But, if you don’t have access to the gym, or prefer to get your heartrate up privately, a few long walks every week may start to make you feel better. Yoga is a particularly great workout for those of us with anxiety, as it includes mindfulness, breathing, and meditation.
- Try Natural Supplements: Because I tend to have low iron, I take iron supplements (after meeting with my doctor!), which help to keep my anxiety at bay. What’s more, there are a number of other non-prescription supplements you can try to manage your anxiety, like chamomile, CBD oil, or lavender. Drink them in a tea or take them orally with a dropper.
If you’ve found that you’re not able to work through your anxiety by yourself, it may be time to think about professional help — and there’s no shame in seeking out more than just self-care things to help with mental health. For example, you can try neurocounseling or cognitive behavioral therapy to help with your anxiety. By understanding why you behave or feel a certain way, it’s easier to change those habits and create new ones!
3 Mindfulness Hacks
Still having trouble tuning your inner chatter out and tuning in to what’s happening? Here are three mindfulness hacks to get your brain on board:
- Create a purposeful morning routine. I’ve tried lots of different things to spruce up my morning: Yoga sun-salutations, writing in a journal, showering right away, and more — but what works for me, probably doesn’t work for everyone. Purposely pick items and to-dos that will stoke your senses: brew aromatic, fair trade coffee and drink out of your favorite mug, the one that fits perfectly in your hands. Spend 15 minutes reading an inspiring self-improvement book. Wash your hair with luxury-grade shampoo that lathers perfectly and smells delicious. Whether you prefer things that satisfy your senses, or something else that gets your blood pumping, find the thing that ensures you’ll wake up on the right side of the bed!
- Pick one part of your routine and focus on it, hard: Write down 10 sensations or feelings you experience during one activity. For example, if you make tea every morning, you’ll feel the steam from the kettle, smell the tea leaves when you open the canister, feel the heat on your hands through the mug, etc.
- Check in with yourself throughout the day: I carry around a notebook with me that, when I’m feeling anxious about something, gives me an outlet to take a moment and take stock of my feelings. On top of that, my daily planner has blank spaces for “daily gratitude” and other mindfulness prompts, which I find so encouraging throughout the day, especially if it’s a particularly frustrating one. Set an alarm if you need to. Take note of what you’re thinking about, your posture, your energy level, what you’re doing with your time, etc. Create a mental checklist of what you want to change for your next check-in.
Get in-tune with how you feel and what you experience day in and day out. Once you’re happy with how you experience your life, you’ll find it easier to be a better partner, friend, or employee, and you’ll naturally notice ways to improve the world around you because you’re already focusing on it.
Final Thoughts
If you don’t strive to be mindful, you could end up missing out on so much of your life. Instead of enjoying where you live, who you surround yourself with and the hobbies you’ve always loved, your time and energy can get sucked up by digital distraction and inner anxiety. Mindfulness isn’t one specific thing — it’s personal to you, and it will take time to practice and turn into a habit — but once you find your groove, you’ll realize how uplifting and invigorating it can be!
