Mindfulness is one of the greatest ways to enjoy every single moment of your life. By being present, you’ll find much more joy in everything you do, right down to the smallest thing. You’ll find that you find more enjoyment in food, with friends and family, and even in mundane tasks such as house cleaning and laundry. It’s true!
But becoming mindful is something you need to practice – it usually doesn’t come naturally to most people, especially with the fast-paced societies in which we live today. It takes a conscious effort to slow down and focus solely on the task at hand, and it takes practice.
There are a few key techniques you can use to learn how to practice mindfulness, and in this article, we’ll discuss 4 of the most effective techniques.
Do not multitask.
Focus on one task at a time, and do that task (no matter how minute or mundane it is) to the absolute best of your ability. So, when you are folding socks, pay your full attention to doing just the task at hand, and doing the best job that you can do. Admittedly, this sounds a bit ridiculous at first. But in these small tasks lie the secret to why mindfulness is so necessary. It forces you to slow down and experience just the moment we are experiencing. There is a wonderful Zen proverb: “When walking, walk. When eating, eat.”
Aim to do less, not more.
We tend to want to fill our proverbial plate with many tasks that then only serve to overwhelm us. We are all so very busy that it’s impossible for us to do less, right? But you can, I promise, and the first step is to figure out what is really important. What takes priority? Those things that are low on your list can very possibly be completely wiped off the list, leaving you more time to mindfully accomplish the tasks that are left – the really important ones.
Spend a small amount of time every single day doing absolutely nothing.
Just sit and be aware of the thoughts you have. Look up and notice the sky, the clouds, and the birds. Take advantage of all your senses and just experience what they have to offer for five minutes a day, without doing anything else. Don’t actively think about the things you experience, just allow them to occur.
Eat slowly, savoring the flavors and textures.
Figure out what it is about the food that you enjoy, what flavors you love, and what textures you find interesting. This will help you become more mindful, and help you digest your food better!