I have a confession to make.
Though I’ve written and spoken extensively about mindfulness, meditation is not my cup of tea… But here’s my actual cup of tea!
Though I occasionally use meditation apps in sessions with my therapy clients, it isn’t my preferred method to check in with myself. So I’ve coined a new term, mindful…ish. Below are some of the ways that I incorporate mindfulness into my week.
My 5 AM routine
As a naturally anxious person, I’ve always thrived in having an established morning routine. That is, until I became a parent!
For the New Year, I challenged myself to get back into my old routine of waking up at 5 AM. This gives me an hour or two of quiet before my wife and baby are up and about. While not completely in a state of meditation, I do the following during my morning quiet time.
- Feed the dog and make my own breakfast
- Spend 5-10 mins with a Bible devotional
- Listen to the New York Times Digest on Audible as I sip my coffee
Daily walks with the infant
Walking is another practice that helps me be in the moment. I’ve burned through a few pairs of shoes during this pandemic, as my daily walks are often the only time I leave the house on an average day.
I usually do a 3+ mile loop throughout downtown Petersburg, Virginia. While the mechanism of walking is calming and grounding in and of itself, I like to mix it up by listening to my favorite songs on Spotify, a podcast, or an audiobook.
Adult coloring books
My wife gifted me with a set of coloring pens and a coloring book for the holidays. As you’ll see below, the coloring book is packed full of snarky phrases… she gets me!
Coloring is a form of mindfulness, as you have to focus on being in the moment if you want to stay inside the lines.
Being a person that consumes audiobooks like it’s my job, I usually have a book on as I color. Interestingly enough, I feel like I retain the book content better when I’m coloring versus walking.
Conclusion
I’ve shared a few ways that I take mindfulness practices and put my own spin on it. In this crazy world we live in, I encourage you find a thing or two that helps you focus on the present moment.
What are your favorite mindfulness activities? Share with me in the comments below!
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