Daily Minder – Page 18

Take a Mindfulness Holiday

Many people live with stress and fear as their dominating drives and this is incredibly sad. To truly reach our true potential we must practice living in the moment: the art of mindfulness. It is all too easy to stay in the comfort zone of our well-worn preconceptions about life, but this will not lead to prosperity and mental wellbeing.

Making a positive change to your everyday routine is not always easy but it can be achieved with willpower. One of the best ways to kick-start a change in your life is to take a holiday. You’ll find it much easier to practice mindfulness when you’re away from home. [Read more…] about Take a Mindfulness Holiday

Originally posted on January 22, 2016 @ 2:38 am

5 Common Parenting Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Family, Life

Parenting may be the best job in the world, but it is not without its pitfalls. No doubt that (most) parents have their children’s best interests at heart, but we can’t deny that even parents with the best intentions can make mistakes – sometimes unwittingly.

Here are some of the most common parenting mistakes and tips on how to avoid them. [Read more…] about 5 Common Parenting Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Originally posted on December 29, 2015 @ 8:30 am

Practice Mindfulness to Improve Mental and Physical Health

Mental Health, Mind, Mindfulness

Today, the world is a quite busy place with no time for literally anything. You have to be great at multitasking if you really want to get anything done. For example, you may be watching TV and at the same time calculating your monthly budgets, you may be planning your day while commuting to work, or even be doing the laundry while caring for your children. In the rush to accomplish your daily tasks, you may end up losing your connection to the present and end up losing focus on what is important – you! If you do not agree, take a step back and wonder, how are you really feeling this morning, or have you noticed the shape you are in – emotionally and physically? If you feel you are lacking something, read on this article to find out how to use mindfulness to bring back the connection to yourself. [Read more…] about Practice Mindfulness to Improve Mental and Physical Health

Originally posted on December 21, 2015 @ 1:59 am

Celebrate ‘Loosen Up, Lighten Up’ Day by Getting into Shape

Body

November 14^th is ‘Loosen Up, Lighten Up Day’, and people around the world will mark the occasion by taking the time to relax and take things easy.

Modern life puts a huge strain on us, as the needs of family and work life stretch us to breaking point. Stress, anxiety and a lack of time to spend on ourselves is bad for our overall well-being. This is why ‘Loosen Up, Lighten Up Day’ was created.

Life shouldn’t be all about work, deadlines and the rat race; it should also be about looking after our health, happiness and contentment. So, this ‘Loosen Up, Lighten Up’ day, why not make a commitment to change your life for the better, by taking the time to focus on your own personal wellbeing. [Read more…] about Celebrate ‘Loosen Up, Lighten Up’ Day by Getting into Shape

Originally posted on November 11, 2015 @ 2:03 am

5 Miracle Recoveries after Life-Threatening Accidents

Inspiration

You only need to peruse the CDC accident statistics to see that injuries are not just something that happens to other people. Each year millions of people fall victim to forces beyond their control and wind up in emergency rooms across the country. Sadly, these injuries are often life threatening, and at the very least they result in protracted periods of recovery. But while medical miracles can and do occur in this world, medical-billing miracles are a little harder to come by. Those who have found themselves the victim of an accident need vast reserves of cash in order to cover weeks, months, or even years of healthcare costs. And the best way to build this war chest and ensure the best chance for a miraculous recovery is with the help of professionals, such as those available at the Farar Law Group. Here are some examples of folks who made such recoveries. [Read more…] about 5 Miracle Recoveries after Life-Threatening Accidents

Originally posted on August 27, 2015 @ 10:00 am

Make Your Trips More Memorable: Practice Mindful Travel

Life, Mindfulness, Travel

Traveling is something we should all do at least once a year, circumstances allowing. It is one of the best ways to leave the stress that we experience every day, even if we think that they may not be that bad. Traveling also gives us a chance to discover new things, which results in self-improvement. In addition to that, traveling provides moments of deep reflection that may otherwise not be possible in the comfort (or discomfort) of our daily lives.

That being said, all those things above may not mean anything if you do not practice mindful travel. That is, you have a mindset to do as many things as you can, go about and do the usual touristy things (although these are not bad in themselves), and worry about what may or may not happen.

The next time you go on a trip, try to practice mindful travel. You’ll have a whole new appreciation of traveling, and you’ll thank yourself for it.

Tips to practice mindful travel

Plan ahead

Planning ahead takes away the added stress of rushing to take care of the details – from plane tickets to accommodations to your itinerary to costs. If you can plan months before your trip, then you can rest easy before you leave.

Understandably, though, there are times when you can’t help but take care of some details at the last minute. Work or personal concerns can get in the way of your plans, and you can’t always avoid them. When this happens, do not panic, but find alternatives. In fact, doing things at the last minute may turn out to be a blessing.

There are sites which help you find affordable last minute tickets even if your destination is halfway around the world; for example, you can get cheap last minute tickets to Korea, or even to Japan if you don’t stress yourself over your original plans not happening as you wanted them to.

The key is to keep your cool if your plans get messed up. There is always a way around life’s bumps.

Choose your destination wisely

When planning your trip, how do you choose your destination?

You may have a bucket list and follow that. If your destination is not set in stone, why not spend some time to think about why you want to go on a trip – be as specific as possible – and then decide on where you will go.

Ask yourself the following questions:

Am I willing to immerse myself in a totally different culture?
Do I want to go out of my comfort zone but not experience too drastic changes in environment?
Do I want to go to a bustling city?
Do I need a quiet mountainside retreat or a remote island?
Do I want to recharge my batteries with the sun, sand, and sea?

Knowing exactly what you want will help you enjoy your trip more. Don’t pick a place just because everyone says it’s the place to be. Pick a place because it is where you want to be.

Forget your usual worries

Once you get to your destination – with bumps in your plans or not – leave your usual concerns behind. Sure, it is not easy to just not think about serious issues, but remember your reasons for going on a trip.

Instead of worrying about what’s happening at work and how much you need to do when you get back, think about where you are. Look around you. Literally stop and smell the roses (or whatever aromas surround you). You may not appreciate some unfamiliar sights and smells, but they will bring you back to the moment and make you aware of where you are and why you are there.

Every time you find yourself worrying, do the above. You will have a better experience. Trust me.

Don’t rush about

You’ve probably heard/seen/experienced this: people having a list of things to do and places to visit, following a strict timetable.

Wake up at 6 AM.

Have breakfast at the hotel buffet.

Grab a taxi (or wait for a rental car).

Visit destination A. Stay there for 30 minutes.

On to destination B. Leave in an hour – max.

And so on.

By night time, everyone’s exhausted and just want to crash.

In the morning, the cycle starts again.

While I understand why people feel the need to do things this way, I find it a waste of time, energy, and money. Why go travel for leisure when you just add to your stress by rushing around? Why not make some adjustments so that you can truly enjoy your trip?

Some things may have to be sacrificed – a tourist attraction or two – but if you give yourself time to have a leisurely breakfast, spend as many minutes (or hours) doing something you enjoy, and have a nice (quiet mode or party mode, it doesn’t matter) evening out, won’t your trip be a more memorable experience?

You do not have to run helter-skelter from one place to another. Pay attention to your surroundings and the people around you. Pay attention to what you are doing. You’ll come back from your trip in a better state than when you left.

More travel tips: 18 of My Best Travel Tips to Make Your Holiday Truly Amazing

Originally posted on August 13, 2015 @ 8:00 am