If you’re just going through the motions day after day, here are a few ways to break the cycle and make your days more meaningful.
- Wake up early. Enjoy the sunrise. Enjoy the quiet, slow pace of the early morning. Use this time to meditate, pray, reflect, write, exercise, or anything else to help you ease into the day.
- Prioritize. Remember to do the most important things for your and your family first. Everything else can wait.
- Read books that make you think, challenge your perspective, or answer your deepest questions.
- Eat your food slowly and mindfully. Take time to enjoy it instead of just treating it like fuel. And only focus on eating, don’t watch tv or use your phone.
- Begin a project or hobby. It’s time to start that project that you’ve been wanting to do but have been putting off. Take that first step today!
- Spend time with the people who are most important to you. Having the support of those who care about you can give you perspective on what truly is meaningful in your life.
- Help others. Be mindful of the good you have done for others and the good you will continue to do, both in your work and your personal life.
Here are a few calming breathing techniques that can help ease your mind and boost your mood:
“Let it go” breath:
- Begin by sitting in a comfortable position with your feet planted solidly on the ground. Close your eyes and bring your awareness to your breath.
- As you inhale, feel your belly and lungs expand. As you exhale, feel your feet grounded on the Earth, steadying you.
- On the next inhale, visualize moving any negativity that you’ve been experiencing all the way up from your grounded feet, through your body, into your head.
- On the exhale, imagine pushing all of that negativity out through your ears as gray smoke. See and feel it leaving your body completely.
“Grateful heart” breath:
- Begin by getting comfortable, either sitting or lying down, and then close your eyes.
- Start to pay attention to your breath, consciously deepening your inhale and slowing your exhale.
- Now, put your hands on your heart and bring to mind something, or someone, that you’re grateful for. Choose an easy one: a person, place, situation, pet, etc., that really fills your heart with appreciation.
- As you continue to deeply inhale and slowly exhale, let the feeling of gratitude wash over your entire body. Hold this feeling for one to five minutes, or longer if you like.
Resource: SupportLinc EAP – Wellbeing Place