The Daily Mind
Daily Steps To Mindful Living
We spend a lot of time reading and perhaps watching about virtues we want to imbibe and instill in our children; and there certainly is no lack of material circulating online, in brick-and-mortar bookstores, and other media. [Read more…] about Download our Free eBook “Mindfulness in Action: Everyday Acts of Kindness”
Originally posted on March 8, 2016 @ 7:00 am
Have you ever wondered why some people absolutely hate business travel while others seem to love it? Variables like location, length, and time of year obviously have a big impact on the enjoyableness of work travel. But even with all those things equal, two distinct camps of business travelers remain: those who happily travel for work and those who dread it.
Why is that the case? [Read more…] about 8 Mindful Tips to Beat Work Travel Stress and Stay Productive On The Road
Originally posted on March 5, 2016 @ 8:30 am
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
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
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
Originally posted on August 13, 2015 @ 8:00 am
Shopping is the downfall of one person too many. In these times where commercialism is not exactly an unknown concept to most people, it is easy to fall into the trap of buying things left and right, without really paying attention to what you are spending on, much less how much you are spending.
Usually, it’s only when you see the balance in your bank account or when the credit card bill comes that you realize just how much you’ve been spending.
The good news is that anyone can avoid the headache that overspending brings by being a mindful shopper. With a few tweaks to your habits, you can save money and still buy the things you enjoy. In fact, many already have these habits. If they can do it, so can you.
Here are three simple things to do.
This is probably the most often repeated piece of advice to save money. It’s also the most ignored in practice.
Seriously, though, before you go to the grocery store or the mall, make a list of what you need. Don’t just put together a rough list, though. Pay close attention to what you are writing down. Go through your pantry and fridge if you have to. Check your toiletry stock.
And, when you are out shopping, make sure you actually look at your list and follow it.
Another simple piece of advice: buy only what you need. It’s common sense, but it’s hard to follow when you are at the mall, and you see a dress that you “absolutely must have”.
When that situation arises, stop. Go through your wardrobe mentally. How many clothes do you actually wear regularly? How many clothes have you worn more than once? Doing this will give your urges time to abate, as well as give you a better perspective.
Thanks to competition, there is no lack of discounts and promos that shoppers can find. You don’t even have to leave your home to find them. Just go online, and you’ll find all sorts of discounts.
For example, if you need a new washer or fridge, you don’t have to pay the full price. Home Depot, for example, has Groupon coupons that will help you save money on appliances.
If you need to print out family photos, there are also many options for discounted packages. The crucial thing is that you make it a habit to look for those promos before settling on the first service/item you see. Don’t pay full price if you don’t have to!
How do you deal with shopping? Do you have problems handling money because of this? Or maybe you’re a mindful shopper who has tips to share with us. Feel free to let us know in the comments below!
Originally posted on April 1, 2015 @ 8:00 am
