7 Ways to Live Mindfully

Being mindful simply means living in the present. There is no fixation on the past or the future, and what truly matters is being in the here and now. 

The reasons to practise mindfulness are plenty. You might want to learn to reduce your stress levels, or find a way to connect with your inner world. Or maybe you just wish to relax after having a long, tiring, day at work.

Also Read: The Basics of Mindfulness 

Mindfulness can be a life changing tool for you, whatever the reason may be. The best part is, it’s something really simple. It can be integrated into all your daily practices. Yes, all of them! Here are some ways you can choose to live mindfully every day:

1. Mindful Eating

With so many things to distract us on a daily basis, we forget to truly enjoy the food we are eating and indulge all our senses in the process. Mindful eating looks something like this - smell your food as you take a bite, and feel the texture and taste as you chew it down. As you gulp it down, feel it travelling from your throat to your stomach. Does it feel satisfying?

2. Mindful Walking

Thich Nhat Hanh, a great spiritual leader, once said - "walk as if you are kissing the earth with your feet.” When you are out walking, try to pay attention to the surrounding environment, and the sensation of your feet touching the ground as you take mindful steps. The rule is simple - connect with what is around you and how your senses relate to it. 

3. Pay attention to your breathing

The process of breathing takes place naturally and rhythmically. As you choose to pay attention to how it occurs in your body, it shifts your focus from your mind to your body, letting you tune in with your body.

This way, you can momentarily detach from your anxieties and worries, reminding yourself of whom you really are deep down - the awareness that you tap into. 

Also read: Why Mindfulness Is Essential to Self-Care

4. Indulge in your senses

All of your senses - taste, sound, smell, touch, taste, and sight, are the key to expanding your awareness. When we are lost in thought, we operate on autopilot mode, detaching from what these senses are picking up on. 

To be mindful of your senses, smell the grass, feel the wind, hear the birds, and feel the flowing water every once in a while.

5. Pause between actions.

Take mindful pauses before you perform any action. If the phone is ringing, listen to the sound for a brief second before answering it. Before you begin work for the day, feel your body weight on the chair. 

6. Listen Mindfully

Whenever we are in conversation with others, we never truly listen to what they have to say. We’re often in our heads planning what to say next, or judging what they’re saying, or at times, not paying attention at all. The act of mindful listening involves fully attending to what the next person is communicating to us, including their body language, tone, and voice altogether, so that we indulge in authentic conversations. 

7. Go with the flow

We all have activities or hobbies we fancy losing ourselves to completely - It can be gardening, cooking, dancing, running, or painting. They connect us with who we are deep down - our inner spirit. Spend time doing these activities, and enjoy being in the state of ‘flow’. 

Final Word

Thriving through awareness in the present is what mindfulness is all about. It does not mean getting rid of your thoughts and feelings (they will keep on coming and going). Instead, it’s about acknowledging them and moving on. 

Sources: https://declutterthemind.com/blog/mindful-living/

https://www.verywellmind.com/mindfulness-exercises-for-everyday-life-3145187