Leading a mindful life – this guiding idea has long since made the leap from the esoteric studios into everyday life. But what does it actually mean to live a mindful life, why is it even healthy and how do you put it into practice? Every trend needs its counter-trend. In the case of digitalization, this is mindfulness: yoga replaces permanent action, a book in the evening replaces the “hanging” on social media, companies hire “mindfulness officers” as a burnout early warning system and in the subway candy crush is no longer ripped off, but “Conscious breathing” with the help of an app. Whether young or old, long-term hippie or top manager – the will to a mindful life has permeated in almost all social spheres.

Mindful life

Mindful life describes mindshift to a more conscious existence, contrary to the prevailing fast-paced ness on autopilot, which brought with it the age of acceleration in the form of social networks, multitasking and self-optimization. Mindful life stands for the focus on the HERE and NOW and for more self-time. A conscious perception and observation of the environment, the own body and one’s own feelings is intended to catapult the mind back into the present and thus once again show greater appreciation for individual moments of everyday life – whether when walking, eating or working. This sometimes has positive effects on well-being: hilarious people find inner peace more easily, stressed people take the feeling of constant pressure and overwhelmed people help them not to get completely lost. It increases concentration, reduces stress and provides emotional balance. Studies also show that a mindful life prevents high blood pressure, relieves depression, relieves anxiety and reduces gastrointestinal discomfort. Sounds great, doesn’t it? But how do we put this into practice? Also for a mindful life: Exercise makes the master! Reducing the pace of life from 100 to 0, rushing to book a yoga trip to India or putting several hours of meditations on the calendar every day – this is not effective in the long run. After all, mindful life is primarily about giving yourself time and practicing patience – after all, it’s about stress and not building up.

As an inspiration, we will tell you our favorite practices for a mindful life, which can be easily and gradually integrated into everyday life and in which you can increase one’s way , depending on your desire and feeling.

Our 5 favorite practices for a mindful life:

1. Digital Detox Whether at work or in private life – the constant accessibility triggers stress for many or can even be addictive in an unfavorable case. In addition, by using our mobile phones increasingly excessively, we often deprive ourselves of the magic of many beautiful moments that take place outside of our smartphones. Digital Detox, the digital detox, refers to the conscious decision to go offline and put your smartphone & laptop aside or switch off for a certain period of time. Whether it’s for an hour, a day or a week, it’s up to you. Paradoxically, there’s an app that can help you get the most out of your Digital Detox. Check out: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.urbandroid.ddc&hl=de
2. Conscious nutrition You become careless when a certain behavior has automated – that is, when we do it regularly and do not have to think about it any more. Food is one of them. As a result, we often sling our meals carelessly. This does not do the slender line any good, nor is it healthy! It’s high time to change that! So at the next meal: turn off the TV, put your phone away, pause, consciously chew and perceive the taste.
3. Meditation How long do you last to sit quietly, turn off your thoughts and focus on breathing? Anyone who has tried it knows how terribly difficult meditation can be. Mediation, however, is not about staying in the lotus seat for hours until it is no longer tolerable in pain, but about finding a framework, turning attention to the inside and staying with oneself for a few moments. Whether this is possible for a few seconds or a whole day – that’s a matter of practice! Every single second is palpable! Here, too, an app can optimally support and guide you: https://www.calm.com/
4. Gratitude Whether it’s our health, our friends or the fact of having a roof over our heads, we often take these things for granted. They could be gone at any moment! Gratefully as gifts to be true and accepted, gives each individual moment new vitality and makes us appreciate them more. Try it out and write 5 things in a notebook every day, for which you are grateful that day.
5. Day reflection It was just Monday, it’s already Friday again – do you sometimes feel like time is tearing like sand in your hand? This is because we usually do and create everything we do and create in one day, we do not consciously perceive. A mental, or better still written, reflection of the day going the evening before bed can help! Write a list of all the things you did that day every day. How to get your life back in your hands

Sources:

https://kurier.at/wissen/achtsamkeit-der-neue-lifestyle-trend-der-burn-outgeneration/183.573.602
Mayer, Heike (2015). Living Mindful: The Little 1 x 1 for a Life in the Here and Now
Williams, Mark(2015). Mindfulness training: 20 minutes a day that change your life
Bays, Jan Chozen. Mindful through the day – 53 featherweight exercises to train mindfulness