Dream big but start small.
A small adjustment can have a big effect on your life.
For example, if you want to be healthier,
then start by going to bed a half hour earlier.
If you want to lose weight,
then start by drinking water instead of soda.
If you have an important project to complete,
then start by getting your desk organised.
This quote is taken from a brilliant book The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down by Haemin Sunin. It will, if I get my desk organised, appear in book club soon. It’s a really simple concept though, the same advice that I gave for years as a personal trainer, making small changes to make a big change. Small things are also how I brought mindfulness into my world. I now use mindfulness each day without fail. It’s a way of keeping the feelings of overwhelmingness at bay! It also truly makes you notice, grateful and accepting of everything around you.
I have three simple go-to mindfulness activities that you can do anywhere. See what you think.
- 5,4,3,2,1 – This is a great practice if you are feeling anxious too, an easy and effective way to bring your mind back to the present moment. We have five senses; sight, touch, sound, smell and taste. This practice encourages you to name five things you can see, four things you can touch/feel, three things you can hear, two things you can smell and one thing that you can taste. This practice always makes me smile, it’s always interesting to realise the things you are naming!
- Three minutes notice – This is another practice that I really like. It is about just stopping, physically or mentally, and really noticing what is around you or what you are actually doing. It can be as simple as stopping typing and checking in with yourself, or continuing to type but really noticing how the keys feel under your fingers, thinking about the words you are actually typing.
- Connecting with the breath – This is a simple yet effective technique that I like. First you need to sit comfortably, sitting on the sit bones, lengthening through the spine. You then need to become aware of your body, notice what sensations you can feel, notice how your body is feeling. Accept what you find. Then take your awareness to your breath and the simple flow of the breath arriving and leaving the body. Notice the air and the journey it takes on the inhale, and the then on the exhale. Allowing the breath to anchor you in the present moment, turning off the autopilot mode we so often find ourselves in.
I’d love to know your thoughts, if there are any mindfulness practices you use day-to-day, I’d love to hear them. You can comment below!
Thanks for reading x
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