I am a yogi who can’t meditate to save her life. I have an overactive imagination that gets fueled by maladaptive daydreaming.
This combination has helped me get my dream job but it has made my mental health worse. I am always one breakdown away from insanity.
I can never stop my mind from thinking. I have become an insomniac as my overactive mind refuses to go to sleep.
But over time I have found ways to manage anxiety and stress without popping pills.
Here are the top 4 mindful activities that I do daily to calm my mind instantly.
1. A Lonely Exercise for Better Self-Connection
I started this practice when I joined a library 6 months ago. It is an introverted practice that can be overwhelming for an extrovert.
I try to eat my lunch alone daily. I am not a loner or wannabe hermit and I have made good friends in the library, but I still prefer to eat alone daily.
I don’t watch, listen, or read anything. I have my lunch alone with zero content consumption.
I focus wholly on the food and eat every morsel with peace and calmness. There’s no rush at all.
This meal helped me relieve stress by focusing mindfully on the food. It calms my nerves and gives me the energy to recoup from a stressful day
A mindful lunch helps me control overthinking and brings me peace in a time of chaos.
Ranting and complaining about your boss is not a productive way to have lunch. Instead, try this activity for better and more productive work sessions.
It’s a harrowing practice as it’ll make you anxious and bore your brains out, but those are the withdrawal symptom of content consumption.
You’ll only have them for a few days after that your wonderful mind will make stories on its own to keep you entertained.
You only need to get through a few rough days to get to the good part.
Here’s what you can do:-
- Find a peaceful place in the office to have lunch.
- Cut out content consumption at lunch gradually.
- Switch from videos to audio and then stop that as well.
- Focus on your food by chewing thoroughly.
- Be mindful of your breath if this exercise gets difficult.
2. Make Morning Your New Best Friend
Mornings are always chaotic and you can’t do anything about them. You'll have to wake up at an ungodly hour if you want peaceful mornings.
It’s difficult to follow a morning routine because you have to do a hundred different things before you start your day.
But ideally, it’s a victory if you can even spare 5 minutes every morning for yourself.
So, carve out five minutes before you start your day. Do a little ritual that sets you up for a chaotic day.
I start my day by sipping warm water on the balcony. I go outside for 5 minutes to look at the beautiful view while I enjoy my first drink of the day.
This simple habit has made me more introspective as I always end up feeling grateful for another beautiful day.
I always feel positive in the morning because of this habit as it induces gratitude no matter how difficult work or life gets.
So, transform a morning habit into a ritual that motivates you to be more mindful of your word and actions.
It only takes five minutes to develop a positive mental attitude every morning. So, start today.
Here’s what you can do:-
- Build a morning ritual that you can follow daily.
- Make it as short as possible.
- Choose something that you do before everything else.
- Combine the first task of the day with a mindful habit like gratitude.
3. Quiet Your Mind With This Beautiful EOD Ritual
Another zero-effort mindful habit that I have been following for years is gazing at the night sky.
This nighttime practice will improve your sleep as it puts a pause on your hyperactive imagination that keeps your mind up.
You lose yourself in the vast universe. All your worries and stress seem to disappear when you realize how small and inconsequential you are.
This ritual works so well because it’s rooted in inaction. Sometimes you need to stop whatever you are doing to achieve peace and calmness.
Not doing anything and surrendering to your beautiful surroundings will make you calmer and more peaceful.
Count the stars, if you can see any if not then enjoy the beautiful black canvas that envelops the universe.
This mindful habit taught me to believe in myself. There are as many ways your life could pan out as there are stars in the universe.
So, you need to have an unshakable self-belief that guides you to pick the path that you like the most.
So, go into an open space and cherish the beautiful sky and the moon in all its glory.
Here’s what you can do:-
- Go outside and stare at the stars.
- Count them to make this habit more fun.
4. Always Chase the Butterfly
I used to chase butterflies for hours when I was a kid. I would visit different parks to catch the most beautiful butterfly or find a loveliness (a swarm of ladybirds) to play with.
It was all I ever wanted to do. Nature has always been my therapy. No matter how mentally drained I am, I can always find solace in nature.
It’s a wonderful zero-effort habit that will make you forget your worries and stress instantly.
It’s been proven that spending time in nature can improve your health and emotional well-being. It boosts your cognitive performance and mood.
Science supports my childhood hobby as you can improve mindfulness with a little dose of nature.
You only need to spend 120 minutes in nature every week to boost mental health and mindfulness. That means 17 minutes a day only.
So, go to your nearest park and let nature do its magic.
Here’s what you can do:-
- Go to any natural place near your home.
- Sit there for a few minutes in silence.
- Don’t consume any content.
- Take a walk if you like.
Tying it all together
Forcing yourself to meditate and be calm is a counterproductive habit that will kill your vibe.
So, find little moments in the day when you can practice mindfulness without meditation.
These are my 4 favorite mindfulness habits. They are low-effort and zero-cost habits that you’ll love.
- Blend your first habit of the day with mindfulness.
- Stare at the stars daily before you go to bed.
- Try to eat one meal alone daily.
- Spend more time in nature.