6 WAYS TO ADD MINDFULNESS INTO YOUR DAILY ROUTINE

The holidays are the busiest time of the year and when you’re working, have kids, school run and other responsibilities you may find yourself neglecting to take care of yourself.

If you find you’re not centered and constantly stressed, you’re far from alone. The hustle and bustle of
every day life can consume you and leave you feeling stressed. It doesn’t have to feel that way, there are small ways that you can add relaxation or mindful techniques to the daily grind. Here are a few ideas to help you get started.

1. Try to practice mindful driving in the car during your commute. Take in all the details you can while you’re driving- as long as you don’t zone out. Most people start to zone during regular commutes when they’re used to driving a particular route so try to really focus. If you have to, turn off the radio and listen to the sounds of the road. After practicing for a few weeks, you’ll start to get used to it.   Buy a meditation audio book to play during your commute. Find one specifically for driving and tune in. Focus your mind on a mantra and relax and focus on the road.

2. Wake up 30 minutes early, sit up in bed, close your eyes and focus your energies on waking up. Make sure you don’t fall back and focus your mind on waking up. Open the curtain and watch the sunrise, take in the scenes and repeat your mantra.

3. Sneak small workouts into your morning routine. At work, park a little further away to get some extra steps in or stand up from your desk to stretch and do a position or two after you finish a task. Take a walk around the office during your lunch break. Pack a lunch that you can eat on the go and walk while eating.

4. Do a few simple poses, lunges or squats in the shower. Spend your shower focusing on everything- the sound of the water, the feeling of the water on your back, the smell of the shampoo and repeat your mantra while rinsing your hair.

5. Meditate yourself to sleep. Before you go to bed, drink a cup of peppermint herbal tea and read a relaxing book or take an aromatherapy bath then as you lay in bed, repeat your mantra as you close your eyes. Clear your mind and start counting your breaths.

6. Practice deep breathing and mindfulness while at the checkout. Standing in line annoys a lot of people, but you can use this opportunity to practice a little meditation. Come up with a mantra to help take your mind off the wait and repeat it while standing in line. There are a lot of little ways you can work on adding some extra exercise and meditation into a stressed/packed day- just look for the little opportunities to start. Once you have got the routine down, after a few weeks you’ll find it will start to come naturally and before long you’ll be at greater peace.