The past 18 months have shown us a new way of life, a slower way of life and many of us want to keep some of the pandemic changes as they are changes for the better. Mindfulness activities have blossomed during the lockdowns and using the Moment Pebble is one mindfulness activity to try.
Mindfulness, gratitude diary, embrace happy and slow living there is a new approach on the block, it has been gaining momentum and pace (ironic really when it is about slowing down) on the internet and in how we are trying to live. It is a refreshing approach encouraging us to notice the finer details, to take time and reflect on everything. As busy parents we often live everything at a breakneck speed, we dash from activity to activity, from school run to work and then back again. We fit in dancing clubs, swimming lessons, cubs and scouts.
We are tired, we are worn out and born from this is change. Many of us vowing this year to make a change to get better balance and this is being fed by mindfulness activities which allow us time to reflect.
Don’t get me wrong, the past 18 months have not been some hedonsitic bliss, far from it, we have been anxious, on edge, worried and scared at times. We have ‘pivoted’ homeschooled and been confined to our local communities but what this has done for some of us is remove the fast paced living, it encouraged us take a look at beyond today and make the changes we want to see. There are bits of this new lifestyle that many will want to keep as we open more around us.
I have read more, I have started a Level 7 coaching course for executive leaders, I am going to the gym more and even trying yoga. Learning to get balance in life is important for our physical and mental wellbeing. Those who have worked throughout the pandemic are rightly exhausted, our teachers, keyworkers and essential workers have propped us up and if that is you, please take some time for yourself too.
What is the ABC of mindfulness activities?
A is for awareness – Becoming more aware of what you are thinking and doing – what’s going on in your mind and body.
B is for “just Being” with your experience. Avoiding the tendency to respond on auto-pilot and feed problems by creating your own story. Tuning into some mindfulness activities will help you recognise your feelings.
C is for seeing things and responding more wisely. By creating a gap between the experience and our reaction to, we can make wiser choices.
If you have ever got in the car and driven and then realised that you have reached your destination on auto-pilot you are doing the opposite of mindfulness. You are multitasking and not enjoying the moment, not taking in the details. The impact that this is having is that we are rushing through the days, we are not enjoying the moment or even noticing the moment.
I am trying to be much more aware of things, I am noting the small things, I am taking time at the end of each day to reflect on what has made me happy. To think about what I am grateful for and I am suggesting a number of tools for doing this.
Mindfulness Activities You Can Try
- The Moment Pebble can empower people to recognise that they have the power to shift their mindset to a more positive outlook in as little as 30 seconds, or a Moment. Although well-being apps are very popular today, they are embedded in our key source of stress, our phones. The Moment Pebble is a palm-sized wirelessly charged natural stone device that enables you to take 30 second moments of mindfulness – anytime, anywhere. With a gentle light that beats from within, the Pebble’s light sequence follows Cardiac Coherence Breathing; a proven breathing pattern that brings the nervous system into balance by stimulating the vagus nerve.
There are many health and wellbeing benefits to the Pebble, I’ve been reading about the vagus nerve in recent months and the crucial part it plays in our bodies. I am really interested in this having suffered with POTs and related issues during my teens and in pregnancy. It seems that we are only now beginning to understand how important this is to wellbeing.
2. I have shared previously mindful craft activites that help us to relax and switch off.
3. Here are 20-daily-habits-for-mindfulness-and-self-love that I shared recently.
4. I have also enjoyed reading A Year of Mindfulness This year-long mindfulness journal includes:
- Weekly themes–Focus on a different aspect of mindfulness each week–centering your body, exploring your mind, taking care of yourself, and appreciating the good things.
- Daily writing–Stay engaged all year long with a mindfulness journal that has 364 prompts, ranging from examining the way you breathe to photographing the world around you.
- Mindfulness made easy–This mindfulness journal is filled with quick and simple exercises that help you live moment to moment.
5. I find listening to audio books is a great way to practise mindfulness, I enjoy listening to the Mindful Day but did you know prime members can have 3 months of Audible for 99p which is a great way to try out different Mindful activities and audio books, just click the banner below to get started.
6. Go for a long walk, preferably in nature to ground yourself in mindfulness. Once there tune into the sounds and experinces around you. Choose to sit quietly or explore the natural environment. Listen, look and see, use your senses to reconnect. These mindfulness activities will help you feel at peace.
If you are looking to connect with mindful activities I suggest you do some reading but also consider using some tactile tools like the Moment Pebble as it gives you something to focus on and will instil a feeling of calm. You can order yours and read more about how to use the Moment Pebble by clicking this link.
