Enjoy Your Morning Cup

In the morning with your cup of tea or coffee, try to take even a minute to appreciate the smell, the warmth, and the taste. How often do you sip away while simultaneously reading emails or watching TV when suddenly you’re left with an empty cup and didn’t get to savor any of it? Appreciate your morning cup without distractions or trying to multi-task so you can start your day slower and with a little more intention.

Eat Without Distractions

On that same note, something that can make a huge difference in your state of mind and also your relationship with food is to eat without distractions. It’s hard not to eat lunch without watching a YouTube video or scrolling through Facebook, so next time your tempted try leaving your phone in another room while taking lunch so you can take a break and focus on what you’re eating instead.

After all, it’s you who made the effort to prepare your meal, so don’t forget to take the time to enjoy it too.

Use Essential Oils

During the work day, we love to add a few drops of essential oil to a diffuser to keep our workspace more enjoyable. Mint essential oils will make you feel cool and refreshed while lavender is great for staying relaxed. If you don’t own a diffuser, an aromatherapy roll-on is also perfect for awakening your senses and reminding you to focus on what you’re trying to accomplish. Many of us try to get our projects and presentations done as soon as possible, but instead we should try to enjoy the creative process, appreciate what we’re learning and ask how we could improve our work.

Take Regular Walks

Daily meditation doesn’t have to mean sitting passively. Walking meditation, also known as mindful walking, is an active practice that requires you to be consciously aware and moving in the environment rather than sitting down with your eyes closed. Mindful walking can lead to a unique set of benefits compared with its seated counterpart. The practice brings you closer to nature as well as your body. It’s a simple and comfortable form of meditation that can be particularly valuable for newcomers or anyone who prefers a more active form of this practice.

Appreciate Your Workouts

How often when you’re exercising do you think to yourself ‘I hate this!’ and then immediately when you’re done you think ‘that wasn’t so bad’ or even ‘I love working out!’. We agree - the feeling afterward is SO much better than the process.

That said, nobody wants to spend 30 minutes hating what they’re doing, so try shifting your mindset to get a little more appreciative about the amazing things your body can do (even if it’s not all that flexible or agile, be proud of what you can do). While working out, stay focused on the moves and exactly what your body is doing, even through the struggles.

Take A Bath

This probably isn’t something you’d want to do every day, but you should treat yourself to a bath at least once a week. It’s one of the best ways to get away from everything and focus on the present moment – the warmth of the water, the quietness, the lack of distractions.

Make this time extra special my lighting a few candles or playing some of your favourite music. Another nice tip is adding a few drops of essential oil (such as tea tree or eucalyptus) into the tub. The soothing scent will subconsciously entice you to take deeper breaths which is one of the hidden keys to optimum wellness.

Reflect On Your Day

Late in the evening, our minds can become hazy after spending the day completing task after task. To start being more present during your evenings, try one of these ways to relax after work that don’t involve Netflix and why not start a night routine that helps you wind down and stop thinking about the next day.

In order to settle down before bed, light a candle and spend a few minutes writing in a Journal. This way, you can reflect on what happened during the day and think about what you’re grateful for. When you’re reflecting on your day, try not to think about what went wrong or what you need to do tomorrow. Give yourself the time to focus on what went well and anything that made you laugh, inspired an idea, or piqued your curiosity. Write those things down because those are often the parts of life that get forgotten first.

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Article inspiration: theblissfulmind.com