In today’s world, we are surrounded by constant entertainment and information. Our cell phones keep us connected to everything that’s happening in the world and are our main method of communication with others. We rarely get that time anymore when we are alone with our thoughts and can take a break from the constant flow of information.
Enter the mindfulness era where we can take a break from the world and focus on ourselves. Making time for yourself to focus on the current and your surroundings can be the change you may need to feel more connected to yourself. I’ve been trying to incorporate some “me time” where I can turn my phone off and focus on myself and my thoughts. I’m going to share with you some of my favorite hobbies and habits to practice mindfulness and wellness in my life.
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Yoga
Yoga was my gateway to practicing mindfulness. Practicing Yoga allows me to not only focus on my flexibility but allows me to connect with my body as I practice each pose. With each pose, I’m able to become more aware of what parts of my body are lacking in strength and acknowledgment. An important aspect when performing Yoga is a focus on one’s breathing. As you get into the groove of breathing and the poses it brings you down to earth.
An added benefit of Yoga is that it’s a form of exercise, that allows me to relieve any stress I feel for the day. As you become more comfortable with the poses and get a deeper stretch you’ll start feeling a sense of relief. At the end of yoga classes, they tend to have you lie on the floor with your legs spread and your eyes closed. The music in the background is really soothing and the mantras that the instructors say hit deep.
Sitting Or Laying Meditation
After practicing Yoga for a little bit I’ve also incorporated lying meditation. Although if you feel more comfortable sitting and meditating you can do that too. It’s a personal preference. I would also like to note that meditation doesn’t necessarily need to be lying or sitting meditation with your legs crossed. Meditation is a state where you’re able to clear your mind and get connected to your thoughts and feelings. This state can be achieved by doing an activity that brings you peace and clarity. In college, a form of meditation would be driving at night with my favorite music on. The clear roads and peaceful music got me in the zone and allowed me to connect and ground myself.
Walks Early Morning or Night
Another practice you can incorporate to practice mindfulness is taking walks early in the morning or late at night. I’ve found that going on walks when it’s not busy out or as the sun is setting is an amazing way to either prepare for the day ahead of you or decompress after a long day. Getting exposure to the outdoors is good for the soul and can let you reflect on your days and get into your deep thoughts. Throw on your favorite podcast or music playlist and you can walk for miles and not even know it. This also can be a form of meditation if you find a playlist that just hits.
“Sunday Resets”
In college, I started to incorporate my Sunday Resets. On Sundays, I always prepare everything to prepare me for success for the week. This would entail doing groceries, meal prepping, working on personal projects to get ahead, and most importantly, self-care at night. My self-care routine includes face masks, clipping nails, and grooming. Doing these self-care routines allowed me to decompress and get my body ready mentally and physically for a new week. If you’re interested in hearing more about a Sunday Refresh I did a short episode on iy Podcast The More You Know. You can find that episode here!
Journaling
Journaling is one practice that I’ve found helps me become more mindful. Although it takes discipline to maintain this habit, the result and feeling can make you feel connected to yourself and often reflect on your day. Journaling allows you to reflect on your entire day and revisit feelings you’ve thought that you might’ve ignored. Going through these feelings can make you more aware of your surroundings next time. You just have to make sure that you stay consistent with this practice, as it can get easy to fall off the wagon with this one. My favorite type of notebook to take notes and journal in is Moleskines since it has that string divider and ease of carrying.