Mindful Activities to Mix into your Busy Week!
As the snow flurries float down outside the window, it’s easy to feel thankful for the days spent working in pjs, not having to bundle up to catch that morning bus, or stand in the long queues waiting for a ‘not so crowded’ tube on the way to the office. However, without that regular morning commute, the workdays often start just moments after the alarm goes off, leaving less time to enjoy that morning ‘me-time’ reading your favourite book, mastering your daily crossword, or stopping by your local coffee shop for that much needed morning pick-me-up. That's why we’ve curated a list of quick and easy activities that can help mix in mindful moments into your busy week!
Make yourself a morning cuppa and enjoy!
Whether you’re a tea lover or coffee addict, you can use this exercise to ensure you start your day off with feeling more awake in the moment! Put your phone on silent and off to the side and whilst the kettle is boiling, think about the day ahead. As your cuppa is brewing, notice the aroma of the coffee grounds or the tea leaves, and choose a mug that will put a smile on your face. Sit down and take notice of the flavour, temperature and texture of that first sip - bringing your awareness to this quiet moment and how it makes you feel. Trust us - this little exercise can set the tone for a very productive and energising day!
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Engage in creativity!
We might be a little biased in saying so but mixing in a creative activity to your daily lunchtime routine can do wonders for your day! When immersing yourself into a creative activity - whether it be painting, dancing, drawing, doodling, colouring, or cooking up something from scratch - you will naturally engage in mindfulness. If you’re in need of a little inspiration, we have lots of fun and free step by step painting tutorials on our YouTube channel that can easily be completed in 15 minutes!
Breathing and Grounding Exercise!
If the emails are rolling in and the To-Do list is getting longer and longer, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and feel like there is no end in sight. With the weight of the pandemic’s uncertainty added to this, you might find yourself fidgeting more frequently as well! In these moments, it’s important to make yourself feel grounded and secure. A sure-fire way to counteract this feeling of creeping anxiety, is to place your feet flat on the floor, either sitting or standing. Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and release. Continue this cycle of inhaling and exhaling for 5 seconds and repeat 3 times. This exercise will help reduce stress, while improving blood flow, sleep, and vitality.
Photo by Markus Spiske via Unsplash
Create a Gratitude List!
One of the quickest and easiest mindfulness techniques, to feel more present, is to write down a list of five to ten things you are grateful for each day! This can be done at any point during the day but we’d suggest as you wind down at the end of the day, just before you go to bed. Remember - the more specific, the better!
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