Everyday Mindfulness Techniques
By Haritha Kannan
Just as Maargazhi was round the corner and having enjoyed the visual treat of Kolam/rangoli everywhere, I have the following questions for you.
What’s that one common factor between our mom’s dedicated kolam ? and the fisherman casting net in the Indian ocean and the washer man dutifully drying his just washed clothes in the clothesline ?
Will you believe me if I tell you the answer is “Mindfulness” ?
TO put in simple words, mindfulness is to live in the present moment.
Yes !!!! That’s simple to say but difficult to follow.
TO live in the present moment, observe people and things around you but without judgements.
TO let the thoughts come and go but without judgements.
Mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us. Mindfulness is actually a quality that every human being has — we just have to learn how to tap into it to experience its benefits.
But practicing mindfulness need not always be boring as many people think. To begin with, all we need to do is to pay attention to all our senses and find peace and presence in the simplest moments.
See, listen, smell, hear and touch.
Any activity that involves multiple senses is a great opportunity to practice mindfulness. What better example can be than our
Age old practices of drawing intricate kolam or rangoli in front of our houses.
The touch of the rice flour,
The smell of mother earth that was sprinkled with water,
The coo-coo and caw-caw of birds,
The visuals of the finest patterns and geometrical shapes in the end.
I now understand why it’s an integral part of many houses in Indian tradition.
If kolam does not apply to know, just like me,
Then even a hot or cold shower can be a mindfulness practice.
The flow of the water, the touch of the shampoo, the rub-ba-dubba dub sound of bubbles, the feel of your skin can be another everyday mindfulness practice.
Everyday mindfulness opportunities can be
- Artworks like – coloring, doodling, mandala etc
- Long walks
- Barefoot walking
- Journaling
- Listening to music
- Playing musical instruments
- Yoga and breathing exercises
- Focusing on food as you eat
- Driving
- Cooking
- Bird watching
- Solving puzzles like jigsaw, sudoku, word search etc
- Cleaning
- gardening
Are you curious to know the advantages of being mindful ? Let me tell you
Stress and anxiety are common experiences for many of us. Mindfulness meditation has become increasingly popular as a tool for managing stress and promoting mental wellness.
- Reduces stress and anxiety: Mindfulness meditation has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety by helping you to focus on the present moment rather than worrying about the future or dwelling on the past.
- Improves mood: Practicing mindfulness meditation can improve your mood by reducing negative emotions and increasing positive emotions.
- Increases self-awareness: Mindfulness meditation helps you become more aware of your thoughts and emotions, allowing you to recognize negative patterns and respond more effectively.
- Enhances focus and concentration: Mindfulness meditation has been shown to improve cognitive functioning, including attention, focus, and memory.
- Promotes empathy and compassion: Mindfulness meditation can help increase feelings of empathy and compassion towards yourself and others, promoting social connectedness and overall well being.
- Improves sleep: Mindfulness meditation can also improve sleep quality and duration by promoting relaxation and reducing stress and anxiety.
Go through your everyday routine, find your favorite mindfulness task. Practice Mindfulness. Repeat.
