Getting your day off to a great, mindful start is important for a mindfully successful day.
Many times when I speak to people about practicing mindfulness, they say they “just don’t have time”. That seems even more so during this pandemic for Key Workers. While part of the country went into lockdown, schools around the world continued to care, teach and support the children and families with child care in school, sorting food deliveries, creating and teaching online lessons, creating home learning packs, answering emails from parents and children, advising parents on approaches to take, speaking to children and families on the phone, safeguarding the most vulnerable and caring for their on children and families, their schooling and health and more. We have had to learn, very quickly, how to do new things with incomplete systems at the drop of a hat. While some have been bored, most educators have been anything but bored.
So, time has been at a premium.
Actually, people who practice mindfulness express that they actually gain time over the day the more mindful they are during the day. The reduction of stress, the reduction of energy and time spent on the past/future thoughts and increased periods of calmness allows for more effective time management.
We need to consider how we can bring mindfulness into our morning routines that don’t require extra time or divert us from our normal routines.
Top Morning Mindfulness Tips:
Brushing Teeth
It is simple really. It is about being in the present moment from the preparation of your toothbrush to rinsing your mouth. Here are some prompts to be mindful of while you are going about this everyday task.
– How does your tooth brush feel in your hand? How does it weigh in your hand? Is the grip smooth or rough?
– How does the balance change when you put the toothpaste on the brush?
– Smell the toothpaste. What does it smell like?
– Begin brushing your teeth. How do the bristles feel against your teeth? Your tongue? Your cheek and gums?
– Notice the foaming of the toothpaste in our mouth and how it feels.
– Once finished, how does your tongue feel against your freshly brushed teeth? Can you still smell or taste the toothpaste? How you you feel now that your teeth are brushed?
Shower Meditation
Many people spend their time in the shower thinking about the day ahead. Instead, use this as a mindful time to become present in the moment.
Enter the shower with mindful intention.
-Take a few deep, mindful breaths as the steam begins to rise around your body.
– Allow the warm water to fall against your skin, paying attention to how the water feels on each part of your body, similar to a body scan.
– Then lather up your cloth, sponge or body scrubber and pay attention to the smell of the soap and the feel of the bubbles.
– Take time to notice the feel of the soap against your skin as you slowly clean your body.
– Finally, pay attention to the feel of water and soap you rinse off, paying attention to the sense of well being and warmth of the moment.
Water Meditation
– Pour yourself a glass of plain water. (It can have ice.)
– Sit down with your water and allow yourself to be aware of drinking the water.
– Take a sip. Allow the sip to linger in the mouth. Notice the temperature of the liquid against your tongue, cheeks, gums and palate. What can you taste? Is there a sweetness, bitterness, acidic or even slightly salty taste?
– Notice the sensations of the water being swallowed and flowing down your throat and into your stomach.
– Continue to be mindful of each sip; allowing yourself to be in the very present moment of drinking your water.
Drink at least three glasses of water like this today.
Top Tip
Use what might seem like everyday mundane activities to be present. Don’t allow your mind to wander. Be in this very moment and enjoy the sensations of activity. Allow yourself to be aware.
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