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A Guide To Mindfulness, And Being In The Moment

Hey everyone, it’s Matt here again.

I’m going to give you some more tips on mindfulness. Getting through the day, being “in the moment”. 

The reason there’s so much talk about this famous “moment”, is simply because: the past doesn’t exist. You can’t change it. The future hasn’t happened yet, but what we do now can influence it.

Photo by Daniel Torobekov from Pexels
 

The best way to influence the future in a positive manner is by being in control right now. Breathing calmly. Smiling. 

As we covered last time, we can’t control the mood we wake up in. But we can do things to improve it.

What time do you get up in the morning? Are you an early starter or a late riser? There’s no right answer to this. You do what suits you. 

We are told that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and whilst there is an element of truth to this – we all know someone who skips breakfast and gets by alright, don’t we?

In reality, our morning routine is a very important part of the day. As we covered a few months ago, when Josh wrote about self-isolation, following your normal routine in the morning is vital for keeping your mind fresh and sharp. https://stridiblog.blogspot.com/2020/03/self-isolation-opportunity-for-personal.html

I have personally found that getting up early, doing a bit of exercise and having a good breakfast is an awesome way to start the day. I like to be dressed, fed and at my desk before 9am. This hasn’t always been the case, I’m naturally a night owl. But you can adapt!

Photo by Daria Tokarchuk from Pexels
 

I’ve learned to appreciate mornings because the world is quiet. The birds are singing. And you can achieve so much before everyone else wakes up. Then, when you’re at your desk with a coffee or a cuppa, you’re energized and ready to start the day.

Here’s one tip: you can gain a feeling of happiness from the smallest of things. Like eating, for example.

Try this today, or the next time you wake up: sprinkle some blueberries, raspberries, pieces of banana or whatever your preferred fruit is, onto your morning cereal. Eat slowly, cherishing each mouthful. Put your spoon down between each mouthful and look around you. If you’re watching TV, take a moment to just pay attention to the programme. 

Don’t rush. Enjoy your food.

Photo by Sofya Zakharova from Pexels

Not only is fruit delicious, but it’s also super healthy and can give you a boost to start the day. Both in terms of mood, and energy! And eating slowly will also improve your digestion.

That’s today’s life hack.

Here’s some tips on breathing exercises and mindfulness:

The Headspace and Calm app are both wonderful. They contain small exercises on breathing, meditation, sleep, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Often, you can choose how long the exercises are. 

Some of these apps provide a week’s free trial, but the subscription fee is usually very small after that.

Another tip: if you can’t bear to turn your phone off at night, put it on Flight mode. If you’re anything like me and can’t stop glancing up at your phone to see if it’s flashing, knowing that you (temporarily) can’t receive any messages can be soothing. It can help you focus on the activity that you’re doing, and it can help you to relax when you’re drifting off to sleep.

Photo by Ketut Subiyanto from Pexels

That's all for today. We'll be back very soon for more mindfulness magic. In the meantime, get in touch, share your own awesome tips, via the usual places. 

See you soon!

 

Follow Matt - @Matt_jl_24
 

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