Technology sure has it’s place in our lives, but being constantly switched-on digitally can create more harm than good to our well-being and relationships.
Adding a little mindfulness to your day-to-day life allows you to enjoy the moment, the journey, and do whatever it is you do with focus. Not to mention helping to reduce stress and increase your daily smile output.
So if you’re feeling stressed but not sure where to start, check out these easy to incorporate (tech-free) ways to wind down and be more mindful…
1. Eat With Your Senses
Do you eat lunch at work while checking emails? Or perhaps you eat on the go – downing that sandy so fast you forget to chew? Apart from suffering from the obvious digestive issues, you’ll have missed out on an easy way to activate a whole array of pleasure senses in our body. Instead, try eating mindfully to reduce internal stress levels and switch on your senses.
Allow your nose to take hold of the aroma as you prepare your meal, as this kick-starts the digestive enzymes you will need to break down your food. Admire the food you are about to eat and appreciate it. And most importantly, take the time to chew and digest your food properly. If you’re already preparing your next spoonful while chewing, that’s a good sign that you need to slow down.
2. Set Technology Rules
Having a smart phone can be a double-edged sword – allowing you to access email 24/7 is great for some, but not when you are meant to be relaxing on holidays, enjoying your weekends or watching your son perform his school concert.
If an overflowing inbox and the constant influx of emails is causing you stress and anxiety, do something about it. Establish an automated email system for all your incoming mail to notify recipients that you will only be checking emails intermittently throughout the day. This helps you manage expectations, minimise distractions and can also boost your productivity at work. On the weekends, turn off notifications and embrace a mini digital detox. Enjoy your weekends by spending quality time with people, where you are attentive to them, and they feel valued. Implementing strategies that work for you will instil more mindfulness to your work and personal life.
3. Colour In
Too stressed and restless to sit still and mediate? Make yourself a ripping playlist, crack open your old pencil case and start colouring. The adult colouring in trend has gone gangbusters for good reason, with more than 140,000 books being sold since April, according to Dymocks.
The tactile experience of colouring-in is naturally calming. It’s been shown to relax the mind and alter our brain waves, by transitioning them from a beta state to an alpha state. When we are in the alpha state, our stress and anxiety levels are significantly reduced.
Jordanna Levin, Lifestyle Coach and Creator of The Inspired Table, explains that, “colouring allows us to nurture our creative side, which we are all naturally born with as humans, but that we sometimes feel is neglected when we get caught up in less creative pursuits like work, finances and everyday stresses”.
4. Indulge In Some Self-Pampering
Tight shoulders? Tense arms? Show your body a little TLC to ease anxiety and tap into a nurturing and mindful space. Run yourself a bath, add some Epsom Salts for muscle recovery and lock the door!
Exercise is another way to care for your body. Yoga requires discipline from the mind to focus on one thing. During a yoga session, you’re encouraged to switch off and tune only into your body and breath – a great option for those who find it hard to stop thinking about work and their to-do lists.
Grown Alchemist, Body Treatment Set, RRP $69.95.
5. Keep The Screens Out Of The Bedroom
It’s called the bedroom for a reason – it’s for sleeping! Technology! Staring at bright screen lights – whether TV, mobile or laptop – can manipulate your circadian rhythm and affect your long-term sleeping patterns. It also gets you thinking, right at the time when your brain should stop thinking and start unwinding, so keep this space sacred and LED light free.
