Being Mindful

Being Mindful

Doing things mindfully is another key to  staying healthy.

Mindfulness is  equal to meditation and I am sure none of us can defy the benefits of meditation. 

What does it mean to be mindful?
Being mindful means being aware of what you are doing , why you are doing, what would be the results of doing it and how you are doing it.

I am sure everyone would agree that every action we do has its results. In today's world, we just aim at finishing things and striking out the list of tasks and feel happy or content about it. Every morning we wake up, hurry up and want to finish up house chores, get ready, leave for office. At office as well our priority is to finish up tasks may not necessarily focus on the creativity or quality of work we do. Do you? Again rushing back home, finish this, finish that and then go to bed.  Have you ever thought how nice you would feel if you had to start day peacefully and calm without rushing? I am sure you know what I mean :). As soon as we wake up, get out of bed and get going. Instead, what if you could just sit in your bed for 2 minutes and think of things which makes you thankful and brings smile on your face? What if you did not rush and did things calmly. It would really take 5-10 mts more to finish those list of tasks you have. You can also put your creativity on and see how you can make your mornings calm. Maybe take help from family members for some tasks or finish some tasks in the night like having your clothes, kids clothes ready in the night itself or planning what needs to be cooked and keep the items handy in the night itself etc. I decided to wake up 15 minutes early so I wake up and have a calm start to the morning. If your mind is calm in the morning, the entire day remains good.

I know most women go though these, every task would take same time, but that hurry thing going on in our minds makes us feel tired already. Pause here for a minute and really think about it.  Why are we restless always to finish that list of tasks? The list of tasks are never ending. Don't forget to live while doing that task. Don't ruin your health to finish that task. Its okay to pile up tasks or get it done from someone else. You need rest and peace. you need time for yourself as well. Remember , you can help others only when you are healthy and have knowledge to help others. Educate self, pay attention to self before paying attention to anyone else. That is what you are teaching your kids as kids learn from examples by following your actions and not your instructions or guidance.

Well, this was just an example. There are so many things we do throughout the day and rushing. More than the body its the mind that gets tired. The mind runs your body and the body feels what goes in your mind. Tiredness, always in a hurry and that temptation to finish up the task is killing us. The reason most of us feel tired.

Lets do things mindfully and I know its not going to happen in one day. One task at a time is the key and that task also might not be achievable everyday at the beginning and its perfectly fine as long as you doing your best and start again as soon as you realize it.


So, let me explain what being mindful means with a real example and the best would be having our food since we have been focusing on health.

• When you are about to eat your meal, make sure you sit with a calm mind. There should be no emotions going on inside. Next, look at your meal. 
• What does it consist of? What are the items that you will eat,? 
• what are they made of, which nutrients they have or at least how full of nutrients it is. 
• How you should eat it ( Chew your bite completely to make it liquid in your mouth and pay attention to its taste. You will see focusing on your taste buds will make you eat less. Wait for the bite in mouth to finish before getting that next bite ready) 
• How much you need it (  When you start your food, think what the size of your stomach is. Its the size of a fist. Now see your food plate and decide how much you will actually need and also make a decision to stop eating when you think that you are just little less than finished. It is better to keep the food away than put that unwanted food in your stomuch. The amount of money or respect for food you are trying to save is actually doing much more harm to your body and mind than you think. Its better to take less in your plate first time and take as much as needed after that)
• What effect will that food have on you ( Imagine the effect of good food and  nutrition on your body like I am eating curd and I imagine how its beneficial for my gut and as a result keeps my constipation away, provides calcium and vitamin D which is good for bones and in general for many other functions in our body )
• Complete focus on your food with no gadgets like TV, Phone, tablets, laptop etc. The idea is no attention diversion. When you have your focus on food, it will digest and absorb nutrients better
• Your seating posture should relax your body. When we sit down with legs folded, the tension from different parts/muscles/nerves of the body is released. When we eat with relaxed mind and body, out food gets digested and absorbed more nicely .
• Once finish, you should sit there for at least 5-10 minutes thinking of what you ate, how its taste was, did you like it? was anything missing? is there any change needed next time.

Don't panic seeing the bullet items. Its more easy and less time consuming and good for health than you think. 

When we follow all these instructions, there will be less fat accumulation and better nutrient absorption leading to good health ultimately.