Sometimes, we need to step back and take a breather. There's nothing more unhealthy than forgetting you're alive. How could people forget they're alive, you ask? Simple: Anyone can become zombified by repeating the same thing, day in, day out. When you get stuck in a rut, it's easy to forget what it feels like to revel in the small moments, to be grateful for what you have, to appreciate the sacredness of every passing day.
Thankfully, there are ways to get that fiery passion for life back, no matter what sort of job you work. Even if you don't feel like a zombie, or like you're stuck in a rut, these tips and tricks can certainly help you lead a more conscious, fulfilling life. Just doing a handful of these tips every day can make a difference: You decide which works best for you, which will make you feel the most alive. Let this article inspire you to see past the mundane and really love every moment you're given. After all, there is only this moment.
1. Meditate.
Meditate for at least 5 minutes every day at the same time of day (morning or night).
2. Reflect.
Reflect on your entire day before bed: What did you enjoy most or learn?
3. Look at your hands.
Spend a full minute focusing on the patterns of your hands: Observe every nook and cranny and thank them for getting you through the day.
4. Give yourself a massage.
Give yourself a hand and foot massage at the end of the day to show your limbs some gratitude.
5. Focus on your food.
When you're eating a meal or drinking something, really focus on the experience of eating and drinking: Savor every morsel.
6. Breathe in the outdoors.
Take a deep breath in and out every time you leave your house: What does the air smell like, taste like?
7. Grow something.
Grow a garden no matter how small a space you live in: Connect with the tiny sprout your love and attention helped bloom.
8. Write.
Start a journal: Vow to write the day's happenings in it every night, no matter how mundane.
9. Play in dirt.
Dig your hands into fresh soil and feel the energy of the earth: This is your one true home.
10. Watch the weather.
Observe weather patterns and seasonal changes: Learning the ebb and flow of nature connects you to something bigger than yourself.
11. Focus on your heart.
Draw attention to the beating of your heart: This may make you uncomfortable, but it is a part of you that operates without you needing to tell it to.
12. Examine your environment.
Take in your surroundings for a solid minute, paying attention to every detail your eyes can latch onto: The beauty lies in the complexity of the space that surrounds you.
13. Breathe deeply.
Learn the fine art of silencing a wandering mind: Deep breaths.
14. Clear the clutter.
Simplify your life as much as possible: Clean your home out and donate what you don't need (or use anymore).
15. Donate clothes.
Go through your closet and ask yourself: Do I really need all these clothes? How many do I wear on a weekly basis? Donate the clothes you don't need or wear.
16. Read.
Take one hour out of your week to get lost in a good book (no TV, phone, or music included!).
17. Focus.
When you do a task, focus on the task at hand: Don't multitask.
18. Watch the sunrise/set.
Watch the sunrise and sunset. Or try sungazing.
19. Eat seasonally.
Eat with the seasons: Align yourself with fresh fruits and vegetables that are currently at their peak.
20. Hydrate.
Drink lots of water (8 to 11 cups) to stay sharp, revitalize the mind, and keep headaches at bay.
21. Keep moving.
Stay on the move: Sitting at a desk all day causes your brain to be as stagnant as your limbs.
22. Exercise.
Create an exercise routine you'll enjoy, not detest.
23. Forage.
Try foraging for your own food every once in awhile: It will make you acutely aware of your surroundings in a way you don't have to be while shopping at the grocery store.
24. Remember sun basics.
Learn which direction the sun faces and sets: Believe it or not, people actually forget because they take it for granted!
25. Go stargazing.
Go stargazing and be awestruck by the vastness of the universe.
26. Learn the constellations.
Learn which constellations to expect with each passing season.
27. Know the lunar cycles.
Know the cycles of the moon (and if applicable, observe how your menstrual cycle syncs up with it).
28. Go phone-free.
Learn how to put down your phone and stop checking it: Challenge yourself to go one to two full hours a day without your phone. (Or try a full tech-free detox!)
29. Cut out TV.
Stop watching TV: Interact with your family, go out with friends, garden, cook, or exercise instead.
30. Remind yourself.
Remind yourself what a miracle it is to be alive: You are in the here and now!
