It’s important to practice mindfulness in everyday life situations. With typical life stressors, it can be challenging to stay calm and appreciate what’s good in your life. Whether you are stressed with work or school or have anxiety about your family, your unease is common and can get in the way of you living your life to the fullest. But what if there was a way to combat these negative emotions? Practicing mindfulness may be the solution you have been looking for. There are many ways to practice mindfulness, ways that are so simple, you’ll be asking yourself why you didn’t try to make an effort to do these things before.
It’s important to try to stay positive and occupied during trying times, and the best way to do that is to practice mindfulness. Mindfulness will allow you to put value to things in life that are important, while also allowing you to relax and stay calm. Mindfulness will help you accept what you cannot control, so that you can live a happier and healthier life. Here are three easy ways you can practice mindfulness within the comfort of your own home.
1. Begin practicing yoga.
Yoga is an outstanding way to practice mindfulness for people of all ages, so much so that spiritual retirement communities offer it to their residents. Yoga is great for the body but is especially great for the mind. Yoga can help practitioners focus on positive thoughts, put things in perspective, and appreciate people and things that are important to their growth and happiness.
Yoga will teach you to let go of negative thoughts and perceptions, as well as feelings of anxiousness and worry. Most of the mindfulness that one will learn in yoga is centered around certain movements and breathing techniques. Consider watching Youtube videos about yoga or enrolling in an online class while you are at home if you don’t want to go into a yoga studio.
2. Read books about a Zen frame of mind.
Like yoga, this Buddhist philosophy is based on mindfulness, learning to put value to happy and important things in life, and letting go of fear and worry. Zen practices are done through meditation that revolves around counting breaths until the mind is calm. Once one is calm, he or she will take long and deep breaths to clear the mind and let negative thoughts pass.
To practice a Zen frame of mind and mindfulness, read books about it while you are in quarantine. Books about Zen mindfulness will keep you occupied while also teaching you ancient techniques of mindfulness to help you during stressful life situations. Some books about meditation and mindfulness to consider include:
- The Way of Zen by Alan Watts
- The Miracle of Mindfulness by Thich Nhat Hanh
- Peace is Every Step by Thich Nhat Hanh
- The Things You Can See When You Slow Down by Haemin Sunim
- Practical Zen: Meditation and Beyond by Julian Daizan Skinner Roshi
3. Download a mindfulness app or listen to a podcast.
Learning mindfulness is easier than ever with mindfulness and meditation apps and podcasts. Most of these apps and podcasts are free or low-cost and will help you practice mindfulness. These apps are easy to use and are accessible to people of all ages. Some mindfulness apps to consider include:
Likewise, some mindfulness podcasts to listen to include:
- “The Mindful Minute”
- “Untangle“
- “10 Percent Happier with Dan Harris“
- “Peace Out”
Learning how to be mindful is an outstanding thing to know how to do. You will be grateful for how much easier and happier life will be when you can take the pointers you have learned and put them into practice. Mindfulness will not only help you get through hard situations, but it will also help you become a more relaxed and accepting person.
