What exactly is Mindfulness
Mindfulness is defined as “a mental state achieved by concentrating on the present moment, while calmly accepting the feelings and thoughts that come to you, used as a technique to help you relax”. For instance, going for a walk, dog and device free, with the intention of noticing everything that surrounds you, drinking in the sounds, the colours, the feel of the elements on your skin, can certainly bring you into present awareness. Today, we’ll explore how mindfulness can improve your productivity and heighten spiritual awareness.
The Importance of a Mindfulness Practice
Most of us know what we should be doing in order to live a healthy fulfilling life, or at least we think we do. We can often get caught up in the busyness of life though and the first thing that can fall by the wayside is our healthy habits. Carving out some space for our mindfulness practices is the last thing on our minds when we’re trying to meet a deadline, dealing with sick children or elderly parents or simply working our way through that ever expanding to do list. But I’m here to tell you that if you find yourself running on adrenaline to get through the day – if you’re reaching for that second coffee of the day then I’m most definitely talking to you, the most important thing you can do for yourself, and your productivity, is activate your parasympathetic nervous system. This is the one thing we don’t want to let fall by the wayside in our day, as it is the key to actually showing up as the best version of ourselves. When we do this we are able to think clearly, tap into our creativity and gain some clarity on what’s truly important to focus on. And with our energy no longer scattered out in a million different directions, when we come back to the task at hand, we are able to get through it a lot more efficiently and effectively.
Daily Mindfulness Practices
I am not a believer in the one size fits all cookie cutter approach. You need to find one that works for you and that you actually enjoy doing it, especially in the early days, in order to be able to stick to it consistently enough to reap the benefits. And it’s about consistency, not perfection. If you miss a day, a week or even a month it really doesn’t matter. There is absolutely no need to mentally beat yourself up about it, that totally defeats the purpose, simply take a breath and start again. You may even be curious to try something new, who knows you may even end up loving it – especially once you start experiencing all the positive benefits for yourself! Here are my favourite practices to bring you into present awareness and elevate your spiritual awareness:
Journalling
Following the Artists Way has been a game changer for myself and I’ve witnessed this in many others. By journalling three pages a day, preferably when you first wake up, this really helps to unlock the creative spirt that is within each and everyone of us. I used to work in funds management and finance roles that required me to be constantly operating from my analytical mind and believed that I wasn’t creative at all. I credit this practice for helping to unlock the part of me that is now constantly wanting to write, design and curate beautiful spaces and experiences. And when we are creative we’re in the present moment, some describe it as a flow state, completely focused on the project we’re working on. Most people in this state will tell you that it connects them to source, to spirit, and this is where they draw their inspiration from.
Breathwork
The thing I love about breathwork is that it gets people there quickly. When I say “there” what I mean by that is completely out of the head and into the body and with some of the more dynamic practices taking some people into states of pure consciousness in one session, that was previously thought to take years of advanced devotional spiritual practice to achieve. On the other end of the breathwork spectrum practices to calm the nervous system are invaluable tools to alleviate the stress, anxiety and overwhelm we can often experience as entrepreneurs and business owners.
Meditation
This is the key to getting to know ourselves. Sitting in stillness, even for ten minutes a day, can give us a much understanding of what’s concerns us, what we desire, what truly matters to us. For those who say they don’t have time to meditate, consider how you want to view your life in 5 or 10 years—will you wish you’d done things differently? Meditation will put you in the drivers seat of life and you will be able to navigate it from a much clearer space. Whether it’s guided or in silence it really doesn’t matter, find out what works for you and give it an honest chance to transform your life.
Yoga Nidra
In my humble opinion yoga nidra is the ultimate life hack, with a 30 minute session being the equivalent to 2-4 hours sleep, depending on how deep you go. The restorative breathing pattern you go into in the this state is also immensely beneficial, helping the body regulate itself and bounce back from stressful period effectively.
