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Practice Mindfulness Throughout Your Day
(Meditation Not Required)
The word “mindfulness” may conjure up images of a monk in robes, peacefully meditating under a tree. I don’t know about you, but my meditation practice is nowhere near that level of expertise. Luckily for us, being mindful doesn’t require a monk’s level of focus, it’s something that anyone can do. Simply put: pay attention. Being aware of what you are doing, while you are doing it, can improve nearly every aspect of your life. Here’s a short list of easy ways to work mindfulness into every day.
Eating
While there are lots of fad diets out there, what helped me lose 80 pounds wasn’t a diet — it was paying attention. I started out by using one of those food tracking apps to keep a journal of my eating. It was eye opening when I realized how many extra, empty calories I was intaking daily. For the first time, I became aware of my eating habits.
These days, when I eat, I don’t multitask. No scrolling through my phone with one hand while stuffing my face with the other. I am present with my food and am conscious of every bite that I take. Not only has the quantity of food changed, but the quality has, as well. (Obviously, this is not medical advice, merely my personal anecdote. I wasn’t overweight due to medical issues, I was simply eating too much.)
