Seeking Everyday Mindfulness
Seeking Mindfulness in our Everyday Lives
Mindfulness is one of the most neglected aspects of our life. We are constantly being bombarded with media, news, social feeds and advertisements on top of our daily work activities. We are the generation of multitaskers. Constantly seeking faster, easier solutions to new problems with the age of technology. It is not uncommon to see someone eating, watching television and texting with friends at the same time. Some people exercise, watch news and check social media. When was the last time you slowed down? And how did it make you feel? Possibly bored out of your mind?
The problem of constant overworking and multitasking is quite simply put that you burn out. It can also lead us to be overly anxious, stressed and lead to clinical depression. Being mindful, which is often killed by multitasking and being constantly in a rush is the art of being aware of the actions you are doing, the media or simulation you are consuming and it’s impact on your mental and physical well being.
The benefits of mindfulness are increased life satisfaction, better mood, a more positive mindset and increased focus. Being mindful is not just about meditation, although it is helpful. Being mindful involves being more aware of the food you are consuming, the media you read and watch and the people you work with. Relating these factors to your overall mood, and outlook in life. Someone who is constantly on the go for example and over eats while watching TV for dinner or lunch isn’t aware of the volume of food he is eating, its taste, or the people he is having dinner with. What if he ate mindfully, instead? He would enjoy the food he cooked, its flavor, possibly eat more portioned food. The same goes for over simulation in relation to news. News is rarely ever good and has an extremely negative impact on our mood. It’s best to be mindful of the amount of negativity brought about it to maintain a sense of balance.
Technology in many aspects kills not only our mindfulness but also our face to face social interaction. It hurts our attention span as we become addicted to constant entertainment on Youtube or Netflix, and social gratification on social media. Being mindful of our actions, especially in relation to technology will save us a lot of stress, anxiety and mental health related problems. The same goes with the social media we consume in terms of celebrities, influencers or politicians. Being aware of the people we follow, the subliminal messages they are telling us and what they represent is important. We become what we think and who we follow. Mindfulness in terms of the kind of people we follow and the content we consume has a direct impact on our self esteem and our sense of self worth. Often it is inspiring to follow individuals not just because of physical beauty but also because of advocacies they represent or the knowledge they have contributed to a field. Greta Thunberg for example has inspired me in so many ways due to her brave stand on climate change and environmental advocacies. The same goes for the movies or shows you watch on your free time. Do you watch porn to get a dopamine fix? Or do you educate yourself through short courses and read books? Do you mindlessly scroll on your Facebook news feed? Which of these habits are working for you to help you reach your goals? The small habits really build up and being mindful of what you do in your free time makes all the difference.
They often say “you are what you eat”. So ask yourself before you do anything in life, is what I’m consuming good for me and my mental health? Or is it just garbage and its just making me feel angry and negative? Once you start asking yourself why you follow certain influencers, eat junk food or have unhealthy habits like excessive drugs or alcohol you’ll realize some things really have no value added to your life. Cutting out activities or people that no longer aligns with your values will help you reach your goals twice as fast. It will also help you find like minded individuals that support your goals. Mindfulness not only brings you a sense of calmness and peace, but it helps you know more about yourself, your values and the person you truly want to be.
Mindfulness certainly isn’t an easy skill to master, but life becomes so much more peaceful and satisfying when you do. You’ll learn to walk away from people or situations that no longer serve, you and you’ll find peace and calm in quiet hobbies or even chores. Clearing away the noise of the world and paying to attention to what is really worthy of your time at the present moment makes a huge difference in one’s overall happiness. Learn to let go of what was, not to fear what will be and embrace what is. Living in the moment will set you free.
“To know one's own mind is nothing short of life-changing.” - Headspace