Monday Mindfulness: Connecting When You Don't Feel Like It

There are days when you may be too busy or too distracted to take the time to meditate or be mindful of your surroundings, and get connected to your body and internal strength. Conversely, these are the days when taking that time matters most. It’s good to have other methods, then, to gain this connectedness and engage in your body and environment that won’t seem as daunting as a full-on meditation session.

One way to do this is to incorporate mindfulness or meditation into an activity you are already doing. For example, when I exercise, I tend to listen to music or an audiobook. There’s nothing wrong with that! But on days when I feel unfocused or disconnected, I sometimes choose to exercise in silence, running to the sound of my own breathing and footsteps. Or I swim, removing the option of external input and just connecting to my own movements and the water. I feel more grounded and my mind is quieter (the exercise helps too!). And, I don’t have the additional stress that can sometimes creep in when I’m trying to find time for everything I need to do in a day.

Next time you are going to exercise, or commute, or wash the dishes, try to connect to your breath and to the silence your own mind can create with just a little additional effort. You may be surprised to find your day enriched and your mind rested. ​