Even though technology is such a gift to the world, it maintains its fair share of disadvantages as well. One of the main disadvantages is that it's built to be addictive. Through technology and other means, a lot of people tend to live in a constant state of distraction. Instead of succumbing to this experience, be intentional about incorporating more Zen experiences and mindfulness into your life. If you don't know where to get started, consider the following practices.
1. Turn Off Your Notifications
If you're used to getting social media notifications, turn them off. You don't need to provide immediate responses or reactions to everything that happens on any given platform. The same holds true with the news. Delete the notifications from major news outlets. Set specific times to scroll through social media, read major news headlines and respond to emails each day. Unless it's an emergency, you can respond to any notification within 24 hours.
2. Develop a Meditation Practice
Meditation allows you to quiet the mind and gain a zen-like experience. When you're beginning a meditation practice, five minutes might feel like a really long time. However, once you remain consistent with the process, meditation can easily run for an hour without missing a beat. Meditation may help with stress management, symptoms of a health condition (high blood pressure, cancer, etc.), and more. If you require creative inspiration, meditation is known to assist in the process. To get started, try a guided meditation session. It's easy to find one on a platform like YouTube for free.
3. Try Using Cannabis to Help You Relax
In various parts of the world, cannabis is used to provide relaxation. When it's used appropriately and responsibly, it can help a person unwind after a stressful day. It also provides its fair share of health benefits. This is why so many health professionals continue to push for normalizing medical marijuana. Some of the health benefits include anxiety relief, lowering blood pressure, and a reduction in inflammation. Conduct a google search for “dispensary near me” to look for a safe and reputable retailer in your area. If one is close enough you might try walking there to get in some mindful exercise.
4. Focus on the Task You're Completing
Resist the urge to multi-task. Multi-tasking isn't as productive as you think it is. In fact, it's an excellent way to make mistakes. When you make mistakes, you end up taking a long time to correct the issue and move forward. Plus, when you focus on the task you're completing, it helps you to remain in the present. Recognize the blessings in being alive and take in the experience. If you're doing laundry, take in the textures of the clothing. Take note of how your body feels as you stand or sit to fold the laundry. Enjoy the process of carrying the laundry to its designated storage space. This helps you to remain focused and engaged with what's in front of you. Rushing to the future only brings on anxiety.
5. Engage in Breathing Exercises
Especially on days when you're dealing with a ton of stress, it's easy to get to the end of the day and realize you didn't actively breathe. Sure, breathing is a natural, involuntary response. However, when a person is immersed in a tense experience, one of the most natural responses for some is to hold or restrict their breath. One of the best ways to avoid this is through the development of breathing practice. Whether you do it once every hour or twice a day, take a few minutes to do a few deep-breathing exercises. Use this time to slow down and reconnect with yourself. It can do wonders for stress management.
6. Keep a Journal
Thanks to the digital world and technology, society continues to transition to becoming a paperless world. For many people, the practice of keeping a physical journal feels antiquated. However, there's so much to be found in the habit. It allows you to remain physically engaged as you put pen to paper. It's a great way to track your emotions and feelings daily. As you notice common threads in your journal entries, you'll equip yourself with data to inform your decision-making process in the future. Plus, it's hard to multitask when you're putting your feelings on paper.
Even though society dictates the trends, you don't have to keep up with all of them. In fact, it's healthier and more sustainable to keep up with yourself. Mindfulness allows you to consistently check on yourself, keep tabs on your fluctuating emotions and detect when you need to course-correct. When you develop Zen practices and mindfulness habits as a part of your lifestyle, you'll reap the benefits in countless ways.
You may also like
Best Food Subscription Boxes For Health-Conscious People
5 In-Home Upgrades to Boost Your Well-Being in 2022
Ways to Stay Calm and Composed at All Times