Imagine living the perfect lifestyle. You get eight hours sleep every night. You eat as much fruit and veg as you’re supposed to, and you exercise and meditate daily. Wow, imagine what we’d feel like if that was the case.
However easy it is to list out those things, in reality, it’s far harder to achieve that balance. Every day we’re constantly trying to manage the mountains of work that we have to complete, the deadlines we’re set. On top of that, there are the constant messages our family and friends are sending us and, of course, the constant distractions that our phones provide.
But, the first list of the utopian world we could live in does exist, or we can at least close to it. By far closer than we are right now. Many people don’t even meditate because they hate the idea of sitting in one spot for too long when we have a to-do list as long as our arms.
Below are some ‘micro-meditations’ that might help. These take up no time at all but still give you some of the benefits you can enjoy throughout the day.
Watching Your Thoughts
How often do you actually sit and think about what you’re thinking about? Do you actually stop and think to see if your mind is actually in the place you think it is? Or whether you’re 100% focused on what you’re doing?
Whatever you’re doing, even now, or any time of the day, shut your eyes, if only for a few seconds. Breath in deeply through your nose and exhale really slowly. Concentrate on your breath. What thoughts are going through your head?
When you open your eyes, act on them and address them.
Listening to Your Breath
If you find your productivity is slipping throughout the day, similar to the technique above, close your eyes.
Inhale through your nose till you can’t breathe in anymore. Hold your breath for two seconds and exhale through your mouth as slow as you can. Do this three times and monitor your breath from the beginning of your inhale to the end of the exhale.
This is a great way to clear your mind and to regain your focus, helping you to stay productive and on task.
Feel Your Body
How often do you actually listen to what your body is telling you? Do you sit in your office chair but ignore that ache in your back because it’s just there and you need to get things done? Your body is constantly telling you what it needs and how it feels, but you need to give it the time to listen to it.
For this, close your eyes and conduct a quick body scan. Start at the very tip of your toes and work your way up every section of your body, making a mental note of how you feel. Once you reach the top of your head, shake it all out and address any aches or pains you might have.
Conducting all of this ‘mini-meditations’ is a great way to get back in touch with your body. Do these every day and you’ll be amazed at what you can achieve and how great you feel!