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5 Ways To Unwind This Summer

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5 ways to unwind this summerWhile each season is unique, perhaps none is more so than summer. Full of activities and time off work, summer seems to take your well-crafted schedule and turn it on its head. The busyness of summer is unique and fun, but can often be overwhelming, too. If this is the case, here are five ways to unwind this summer.

Grab a good book

It’s time to tackle that mounting pile of books you just didn’t have time for during the rest of the year. Now, there’s no reason that summer books need to be light or frothy. In fact, lighter books are best for the times when you’re busy and need an easy read at night. You don’t have to tackle War and Peace this summer but try your best to challenge yourself. Head to the library for inspiration or ask around. Take a chance with a new author. It never hurts to try a new book, and if you don’t like it, no one is forcing you to finish it.

Take a moment for yourself

Summer can be busy. There are people to see, activities to join, and it can be easy to be swept up in the bustle of everything. Each day, find time just for yourself. A few moments to reconnect with yourself can leave you more energized than a cup of coffee. Remember that it’s ok to turn down an invite. If your body is saying you need to rest, be sure to listen.

Enjoy the sunrise

Summer mornings are amazing. There’s a real magic about them. The day holds endless possibilities just waiting to happen. When you can, wake up with the birds and enjoy the quiet morning time. Head to your deck or go for a morning stroll. There’s real peace in knowing you’re awake before so many others.

Find gratitude in the sunset

At the end of the day, reflect on what has happened. Summer days are unique. They can either be filled with endless moments or a whirl of activity. Especially on those busy days, be sure to reflect on what has happened and search for the gratitude amongst the events. The more you savor each day, the less likely you’ll wonder where summer went to at the end.

Do something for others

One final way to unwind this summer is to help others out. While a bit of soul searching is always encouraged, often the answers we are looking for can be found with other people. Take some time this summer to volunteer or reach out to a friend in need. To be honest, it might seem like a lot of effort at the beginning. But once you get started, you’ll realize this was the final piece to creating harmony in yourself.

How Mindfulness Can Create A More Relaxed You

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how mindfulness can create a more relaxed youMindfulness means that you are aware of what you are doing. You aren’t distracted by thinking about what needs to happen next. Instead, you are awake and alive in the present moment. That sounds rather enticing, right? Turns out, mindfulness can be a bit harder to achieve than just willing it to happen. However, with the right frame of mind and bit of perseverance, mindfulness can create a more relaxed you.

Too much screen time

It’s said over and over again, but it’s time to put the smart phone down. While these amazing devices have benefitted our lives is so many ways, the truth is that they are just far too distracting. When is the last time you watched an entire movie without looking at your phone? Do you have two types of TV shows that you watch: ones that need your attention and ones that are just on the background while you’re on your phone?

Yes, even watching TV can be a mindful activity. The next time that you plan on watching a show, especially if it’s with another person, put the phone away. If you can, place it in an entirely separate room so that there is no temptation.

Organize your life

Do you have a to-do list? Are you constantly agonizing over what still needs to be done, especially as you’re trying to enjoy a pleasurable activity? Spend some time thinking about how to better organize your life. Perhaps you need a dedicated time of the day where you tidy things up. Maybe you need to enlist the help of a partner to get things done. Whatever is the case, make it so that you can enjoy what you’re doing in the moment, rather than stressing about what still needs to be done.

Take time to sit

Ever start to feel antsy when all you’re doing is sitting? Even when taking public transportation, do you just sit, or do you need to read a newspaper or be on your phone? It’s ok to not have something to distract you from your thoughts.

So, when there’s a sunny afternoon, pour yourself a mug of tea, and just sit. Feel the sun on your skin. Breathe the fresh air. Listen to the birds chirping. This is your time and you should enjoy it.

Start small

Now that you have an idea of what mindfulness looks like, you might be wondering how to add it to your already full life. The great think about being mindful is that you can start small. Even just a few minutes a day where you stop and appreciate what is happening will allow you to practice this skill. And, like most skills, the more your practice, the better you will become at it.

3 Ways To Meditate For A Calmer You

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3 ways to meditate for a calmer youWhen you think of meditation, to you immediately picture a person in a yoga pose, calmly breathing in and out? While this is one form of meditation, there are actually many other ways to perform the calming practice. If you find yourself caught up in the hustle and bustle of life, you may want to try mediation. To help you get started, here are four different ways to meditate.

Body Scan

Starting the journey to meditation can be difficult if you’re not exactly sure what to do. The goal is to free your mind of thoughts, but that can be really hard. One form of meditation is called a body scan, and is a great exercise if you just can’t get rid of your thoughts. Start by sitting in a quiet, comfortable location. Close your eyes and then go through your body. Start with your toes. With each breath in and out, locate a new body part. Become aware if there are any issues or stresses within that body part. Slowly work your way towards the top of your body.

Performing a body scan is the perfect way to get to know your body better. It is also a chance for you to practice controlling your thoughts during meditation. As an added bonus, this is also a noteworthy way to help you fall asleep at night.

Be Mindful

While it can be hard to clear your mind of thoughts during meditation, there is a form that embraces those thoughts. However, instead of entertaining any thoughts, you need to think only of the present. Being mindful during when you meditate does not mean that you worry about the past or plan for the future. Instead, you are only aware of what is around you. What do you smell in the room? How comfortable is the floor you are sitting on? What can you hear? Let these thoughts enter your mind and form a picture of the here and now.

Walking Meditation

If sitting isn’t for your, or you want to expand your traditional meditation practice, you can incorporate a walking portion to your routine. Start by walking slowly and in a relaxed fashion. You’re not walking to get somewhere; rather, you are walking to help clear your thoughts. Slowly begin to listen to your senses. Much like mindful meditation, the goal is to not linger over past or future ideas. Rather, you need to be aware only of the present situation. Can you smell the flowers that you walk by? How are the birds different, based on their songs? What texture does the ground feel like?

Walking meditation is best if you use a short path. At the end of each length, pause and take stock of your surroundings. And as you take each step, always be aware of your breathing. You can perform a walking meditation for as long as you like, and as you become more familiar with it, start to use it as you go about daily life.

5 Ways to Start the Day Smiling

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5 ways to start the day smiling Mornings don’t have to be hard. They don’t have to be full of grumpiness and dread. Here are five easy ways to start the day smiling so that you can be a better, happier self.

Get enough sleep

The oft-repeated advice to get enough sleep should not be ignored. While it seems like there is never enough time to accomplish everything in a day, sleep should not be sacrificed. While it’s recommended that adults get at least 8 hours of sleep a night, everyone is different. But, if you are constantly foggy throughout the day, think about changing your sleep habits. Even an extra 20 or 30 minutes a night can make a big difference.

Plan the night before

It’s tempting to think that your day should start with a plan, but it’s actually better to plan the night before. Before going to bed, make a list of things you want to accomplish the next day. Are there any projects that need to be finished? What errands need to be done? Even something as mundane as picking out your outfit the night before can help you to start the day smiling.

Too often we wake up and worry about all of these decisions. If you can make the decisions the night before, then you won’t have to worry about them. Instead, you can simply wake up and start your day off right.

Think about your purpose

Instead of getting trapped in a cycle of focusing on small tasks that need to be accomplished, think about a big picture for your day. Start with feelings. Do you want to focus on being happy today? Do you want to make a difference with others? Or want to feel creative? If you can begin your day with a purposeful focus, it gives your brain an overall feeling to achieve. This purpose will help you start the day smiling by giving you some clarity.

Meditate/ Reflect

Once the alarm goes off in the morning, it can be a mad rush to get dressed, eat breakfast, and be on your way to work. But time to meditate and reflect needs to be added to your morning routine. It doesn’t have to be much. Even 10 minutes in the morning will help you clear your mind and give you a sense of inner peace.

It can be hard to find an extra 10 minutes in your morning, but time isn’t there to be found. It’s there to be made. Make the time. Got to bed 10 minutes earlier so that you can wake up 10 minutes earlier. Have a shower in the evening.

Leave the Emails for Worktime

Now that email is almost automatically paired with a smartphone, work email has steadily intruded into personal time. It’s tempting to immediately start checking your email after waking up, but this usually just creates stress. Do your best to wait for work to do work. It will allow you personal time and result in you able to start the day smiling.