Did you ever keep a diary when you were a little kid?

Have you ever gone back as an adult and read about your life back then? Man, on man did you think life was crumbling on you but look at you now… You made it to adulthood in one piece!

Most likely, that kind of journaling was about boys you liked in the 6^th grade or how your best friend did you wrong you (like telling said boy you liked him)…

This kind of journaling, adult journaling, is not quite like that thankfully.

We use it in our life now as a tool to ease our stress, practice mindfulness, and get things out into the world we don’t necessarily want to tell others.

It is one of the best ways to be honest with yourself. Simply because no one else is going to read what you have to say.

Journaling can be very simple.

You can simply write about your day, who you interacted with, how you felt, what bothered you, or what made you happy.

Or you can ask yourself more thought-provoking questions such as:

When do I feel my best? 

What did I learn about myself in the past month? 

What is a healthy habit I’d like to cultivate?

Journaling doesn’t need to be hard and you don’t need to write like a professional because remember… no one is going to read it but you!

So, sit down, grab a notebook (My favorite kind of journal to write in are Moleskins which you can buy here) and a pen (I also recommend using a nice pen, makes you feel fancy and such) and write your heart out.

If you need some motivation and journaling ideas, check out my free PDF download for mindful journaling here.

Meditation is a very popular activity now, so it is likely you’ve at least practiced it before (but that doesn’t necessarily mean it was a successful practice).

There are so many different types of meditations to practice and so many resources to use including apps, YouTube, and the good ol internet.

But even with all of these resources, has meditation actually worked for you?

Do you notice that your mind won’t turn off?

You’re uncomfortable sitting still?

There are too many distractions around you?

It can be very hard to dive into a meditation practice; even as an experienced meditator, it can still be quite challenging to fully meditate every time you sit down.

So, the million-dollar question, how do you actually meditate?

The best place to start is with guided meditations. With these, you are listening to someone’s voice and allowing them to take you on a journey to blissful peace.

Your mind may still wonder but focusing on their voice helps bring your thoughts back into focus.

Another great place to start is dedicating a portion of your house or your room for meditating where there are minimal distractions.

Set a peaceful tone in your room: get a soft pillow to sit on, light a candle or two, or maybe diffuse some essential oils.

Finally, before you start your meditation video, close your eyes and take 3 deep breaths to help calm your mind down.

If you’re in need of some meditation videos, click the image below for a meditation that will help bring some awareness to your body and your mind:

Think about the last time you spend the majority of your day outside in nature.

Think about the scents, the temperature of the air, the sun, rain, or wind on your skin.

How did you feel physically? Mentally? Emotionally?

If you can’t remember the last time you felt these feelings from being outside, make it a priority for yourself this week to go be one with nature.

Notice everything around you: the noises, scents, temperature, and the air quality.

Become one with the nature around you.

Now how does this connect with mindfulness?

When you went out in nature last do you remember what sorts of things were rummaging through your mind?

If things were, you might have noticed that you solved your worries or maybe your mind was quiet.

This is mindfulness.

When the mind is still…

At ease…

This is why I encourage you to be outside as much as you can.

Out in nature with the trees, the bugs, the flowers, and the wind.

Help yourself quiet your mind by simply being outside.

Do you often rush from point A to point B?

Whether that be getting to your destination, finishing a task, completing a workout, or even with eating?

When you’ve finished, what all do you remember of that journey?

Maybe you are doing something fast in order to forget it.

You’ve probably heard the quote:

“Life is a journey, not a destination”

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Well, it’s true!

As a society, we are in such a rush to complete everything.

In most cases, where does that get us? Usually at the same place at the same time with some stress and anxiety sprinkled in there.

Let me give you an example, follow me here:

You’ve had a long day at work (let’s say you’re working from home).

You’re ready to kick up your feet and relax, but you’re starving and don’t want to cook.

So, you decide to go get takeout because why not.

On your drive to get your food, there is so much traffic on the roads you just want to get there.

Finally, you made it and your food is ready (thankfully).

Since there was so much traffic, you realize it is going to take you forever to get home and you want to eat your food while it’s hot. So, you decide to eat it in your car.

What feels like seconds later, your food is gone and you’re full to the brim.

Time to get home to kick up your feet and relax.

Does this scenario sound like you? Or a version of you?

Ask yourself what are you in a rush for? To go home and do nothing?

Let this be an invitation here to give yourself permission here to slow down.

• Take your time to drive slower
• Take your time to eat slower
• Give yourself more time to get from point A to point B
• Just slow down

Yoga: My specialty!

If you have never practiced yoga or give it a good ol’ college try, I highly recommend it for so many reasons:

• Physical health
• Mental health
• Spiritual health and wellbeing

Just to name a few!

Yoga is a form of mindfulness because it forces you to slow down and think so intently on what it is you are doing.

Yoga helps your physical health by keep your heart rate up, stretching your muscles, and using your breath. For a lot of new yoga practitioners, it starts as a physical practice. The more you continue to practice; the more yoga evolves into a mental practice.

Yoga helps your mental health by easing your stress by connecting to the breath, slowing down, and being okay with being still. This is probably the hardest part of yoga but is the most rewarding!

Yoga help your spiritual health and wellbeing by connecting to something that is greater than yourself. Whether that be a higher power or a higher state of conscious being. Yoga can also help you better understand yourself and the world at which we live in.

Are you convinced to give yoga a try or to keep on practicing if you already practice it?

If you need somewhere to start, click here to view some yoga videos led by myself on top of ambient music by Nick Parsons.

In particular, the video below is all about slowing down and becoming mindful in your movement.