7 Ideas for Infusing Mindfulness into Your Everyday Life

Mindfulness was the theme on the blog this month, and as we wrap up September, we want to give you a few reminders about how you can practice being more mindful in your everyday life. Something as simple as washing your face or doing the dishes can become an exercise in mindfulness.

Here are 7 examples of how you can use everyday experiences as opportunities to practice being mindful and more connected to the present moment.

1. Eat mindfully. So many of us have become out of touch with this—one of life’s most simple and wonderful pleasures. When you sit down to eat, turn off all distractions and focus on your immediate experience. Look at your food, take notice of the scent. Chew slowly. Try not to rush; instead be fully present in the moment, savoring the tastes and textures of your meal. For more on this, check out our post “Food for Thought: Mindful Eating.”

2. Practice mindful listening. Often, when we listen to another person talking, only part of our mind is listening. The other part is thinking about how we are going to respond or what we’re going to do next. Instead, practice really listening to what the other person is saying. Make a true connection. The best part about this exercise is that you are giving a gift to the other person—the gift of your full attention.

3. Shower or bathe mindfully. Surrender to allowing yourself to wash your body or face with appreciation and love. Notice the feeling of the warm water running over your body. Draw your attention to the sensation of your fingers on your skin as you wash your face. Inhale the scent of your cleanser. Visualize the water washing away worries, negative feelings, and tensions in your body.

4. Practice mindful waiting.  We typically view “waiting” as a waste of time, but it’s actually an opportunity for you to pause, observe, and be mindful. The next time you’re standing in line at the bank or sitting in the waiting room at your doctor’s office, use that time to be mindful. Without judging, observe how you are feeling in your body. Do you feel tense and impatient? Excited? Bored? Relax your shoulders, breathe, and calm your mind. Realize that you have to be there waiting anyway, so why bother getting anxious or annoyed about it.

5. Spend 5 minutes each day doing nothing. Just sit in silence. Become aware of your thoughts. Focus on your breathing. Notice the world around you. Become comfortable with the silence and stillness.

6. Focus on the present. Become more aware of your thinking. Are you constantly worrying about the future? Learn to recognize when you’re doing this, and then practice bringing yourself back to the present. Just focus on what you’re doing right now and try to enjoy the present moment. This becomes easier with practice.

7. Mindful chores. For many of us, housework takes up a good portion of our time. Instead of thinking of these tasks as chores, use the opportunity to practice mindfulness. The next time you have to prepare dinner or do the laundry, focus all of your awareness on the task at hand. Aim to be fully engaged in what you are doing as opposed to caught up in mind chatter or just rushing to get it over with.

By living life more mindfully on a daily basis, we become more in tune with the moment, with ourselves, and even with the world around us—which helps all of us live #BetterEveryDay.