One example is that having got rid of my old broken coffee machine, I now use a manual aero press which requires me to stir the coffee and water for 10 seconds before pressing the water through. I’ve taken to using those 10 seconds to layer on some mindful breathing. I’ll simply enjoy two or three slow deep breaths in and out through my nose, while stirring the coffee - which provides the added delicious bonus of really smelling the coffee!
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My latest Mindfulness habits
Katie Tarling • June 25, 2024
How I've added mindful moments into existing times of my day
This month I’m reflecting on some of the mindfulness habits I’ve changed so far this year. I’ve started using small moments of ‘dead time’ in which to fit new habits, so I don’t have to find any extra time in my day - which is of course an impossibility anyway!
Another small moment of ‘dead time’ I’ve discovered recently is the thirty seconds or so that it takes for my laptop to turn on, I think it's getting slower! I’ll again use my mindful breathing practice and often close my eyes, which has a double positive, because rather than feeling frustrated as I watch the little loading bar move slowly across the screen, I instead close my eyes and use my breath to calm my nervous system, helping me to feel more focused and ready to do my best work.
I’ve also introduced a habit during my morning cup of tea. I love the lighter mornings and so I’ll often take my green tea outside into the back garden. You may have come across the idea of the ripple effect, where one small positive change can ripple into various other benefits, and I believe this is true of this habit…
1- The green tea itself could have health benefits linked to the healthy compounds found in green tea.
2- I’ll usually take a moment to mindfully tune into the natural world around me: the trees; clouds; warmth of the sun; breeze on my skin; and bird song for example which is thought to be beneficial for our mental health.
3- I might stroll around my garden with bare feet which helps me to feel more connected to the earth and more grounded in my body.
4- The natural daylight that enters my eyes early in the morning is thought to help stimulate the circadian rhythm (sleep/wake cycle) which may have a positive impact on my sleep later on that night.
5- I often notice little things whilst I'm in the garden, so my garden often benefits from a little extra watering or weeding, and I benefit from the movement this requires, so it's a win win! Plus, my back-to-basics coffee press leaves me with plenty of coffee grinds which I’ll add to the soil, another win for my plants!
If you feel as though you’re often living on autopilot, or just not quite living your life to the full, and want to feel more present, positive or peaceful, join my new mindfulness classes. During my Reflect & Reset classes you’ll not only learn some seated mindfulness practices, but you'll also be taught how to incorporate mindfulness into your daily tasks. This means that in our busy modern lives you can begin to layer mindfulness on to your existing activities, taking up no extra time, yet boosting your focus and attention whilst doing those tasks.
This is a beginners course and is suitable for those just starting their journey into mindfulness and meditation. These classes are not suitable however, for anyone with a moderate/severe mental health concern and are not a replacement for talking therapies or medication.
However, if you're essentially doing fine, but feel like you want to get out of autopilot and start thriving again this course could be for you.
I’m starting a new 5-week Reflect & Reset mindfulness class in Hook in September, full details here.
Just start by emailing me, or arrange a call to enquire or to book in, I can't wait to hear from you.