I know lots of people, including myself, struggle with the word “balance” especially when it comes to work and life. I’m convinced that it’s because when we read and hear the word balance, we imagine an image of a scale that is perfectly balanced on each side. That implies an equal amount of time spent on life and work.
Yet the perfectly balanced scale is a poor picture of what our lives actually look like.
Our lives are filled with moments that we are being pulled from one direction to the next. It can leave us feeling harried and exhausted.
Instead of looking at how we can create balance in our use of time, I want to explore how we can create a sense of balance within ourselves.
How to Practice Mindfulness Starting Today!
If we can implement moments of mindfulness throughout our day, I believe that we can “tilt” back toward feeling centered and grounded – no matter what we’re doing or who we are interacting with.
The best thing about mindfulness practices is that we don’t need to spend hours and hours doing them. They often just take a few minutes, but they provide long-lasting benefits.
I’m over on Sharing Life’s Moments writing about 3 simple ways to practice mindfulness starting today. No equipment needed!
Here’s the beginning of the post:
I don’t need to describe to you how fast paced life is – we’re all living it, and feeling the effects of it. Our schedules are packed from sun up to sun down. There is a constant list of to do’s nagging at us in the back of our minds. There is all kinds of noise in our head – literal noise from the radios and televisions surrounding us, as well as the noise in our heads from the past and thoughts of the future.
How is a person supposed to be present and calm when we’re feeling pulled in so many directions?
Two steps before we get started
The first step is to admit that we’re running ragged! We may not be running all the time, but we know that in the small pockets of free time that we have, we’re getting distracted by the minor things (I’m lookin’ at you social media!) and not fully investing in the major things (which usually aren’t things)!
The second step is to bring awareness to your body. It’s easy to just plow through our days doing what we always do without giving it a second thought. Without making any changes to your daily schedule, just start becoming aware of how your body holds stress. Do your shoulders hunch? Are you breathing fast and shallow? Are your eyebrows furrowed?
3 Simple Ways to Add Daily Mindfulness
If you can relate, I want to share three simple ways to add daily mindfulness to your schedule. Mindfulness doesn’t require any equipment and usually only takes a few minutes, but it can have a powerful effect on your relationships, your emotions, and your mindset.
Read the rest HERE
Tell me how you practice mindfulness in the comments below. I’d love to know!
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I make a conscious effort to smile at myself in the mirror, when I’m washing my face, or whatever.
That’s a wonderful idea Melinda!
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on the importance of mindfulness and being in the moment, with us at #Overthemoon. I have shared on social media. Have a great week and see you at next week’s link up! Sue from Sizzling Towards Sixty & Beyond
http://www.sizzlingtowardssixty.com.au
Thank you for sharing Sue!