[mk_blockquote style=”quote-style” font_family=”none” text_size=”12″ align=”left”]“You should sit in meditation for 20 minutes a day. Unless you’re too busy, then you should sit for an hour.” – Zen saying[/mk_blockquote]
Mindfulness isn’t all sitting in meditation for hours a day. Mindfulness is bringing yourself into the moment, at any moment, during the day. You can take this practice into so many of your daily activities – we’re particularly fans of mindful eating! To get you started, we’ve pulled together four ways you can be mindful during your day.
But first, why be mindful?
It’s all in the brain! Our frontal cortex, the area of our brain responsible for executive functions such as decision-making and planning, increases in size (and effectiveness!) when we practice mindfulness. Score.
Now we know why, on to the how.
Chef Good’s mindfulness tips
1. Take 5 in the morning
Instead of reaching for your phone to scroll through your social feeds as soon as you wake up, take five minutes to sit in meditation. It’s important that you sit up so you don’t go back to sleep!
Meditation doesn’t have to be difficult or onerous. You can use an app to time yourself, listen to a guided meditation or recite a mantra – whatever works best for you. Also, ditch the idea that you should be able to block out your thoughts while meditating. Instead, let the thoughts come and then watch them float away – simply acknowledge them instead of engaging with them.
2. Use your commute
Whether you drive to work or take public transport, you have many opportunities to practice mindfulness. If you’re driving to work, use each time you’re sitting at a red light as a moment to come back to focusing on your breath (instead of thinking ahead to your to do list). If you’re on the train, tram or bus you can meditate or simply look up from the phone screen and actively watch the world go by.
3. Take your lunch outside
Rather than eating at your desk in front of the screen or staying in the office kitchen or staff room to chow down, get yourself outside. Find a sunny spot in the park or a bench that’s got a beautiful view. And don’t take that phone out of your pocket! Instead, eat each mouthful with intent. Taste the flavours of your meal. Feel the textures in your mouth. Use your sense of smell to full effect by closing your eyes as you take a bite. Don’t hurry your lunch, take your time and enjoy it!
We’ve got lunch covered! Try one of our tasty and healthy lunches by ordering here.
4. Go to bed technology free
This is a tough one for us modern urbanites!
Our tips for going to bed without technology:
- Get yourself an alarm clock so you don’t need to have your phone by the bed
- Use aeroplane mode on your phone so your night’s sleep is uninterrupted
- Take the TV out of the bedroom – make your bedroom a place for sleep and relaxation
- Switch off at least an hour before bed (try reading a book or journaling instead)
- Create a routine to teach your body that it’s time to unwind making sure that switching your tech off is a part of this
We’d love to hear your mindfulness tips! Tag us on Facebook or Instagram.
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