8 Mindful Alternatives to Meditation

Mindfulness is a conscious state of calm that evokes an awareness of the present moment. When you are mindful, you enable yourself to fully live in the moment, and you are thus awake to all you are experiencing. Meditation yields the same results, but many people are intimidated to begin the practice.

Five strategies to become more meditative

Cleaning

• Immerse yourself fully in the task at hand, allowing yourself to experience every aspect of that moment
• Presence can be brought into every facet of your life, whether it be vacuuming, washing dishes, or doing laundry

Walking

Choose a time and place and go!

• Let your thoughts pass you by like clouds floating in the sky. Be mindful of your body and become aware of your movements.
• Acknowledge your feet as they touch the Earth, your arms move, and focus on your body.

Coloring

When we color and create something beautiful, everything fades away and we get lost in the beauty.

Listening to Music

Mindfulness gets you out of your head, and when you properly digest a song, it becomes an enjoyable form of meditation

• Give full attention to the lyrics, the instruments, the rhythm, the harmonies, and the feel of the music

Conscious Breathing

Pay no mind to intrusive thoughts that might bother you throughout the day – just keep breathing, and let the rest fall into place

• Being mindful helps you gain control of your emotional and mental state
• It gives you the power to be an arbiter of change, rather than a pawn to be played

Dance

This is a fantastic form of meditation because you can only go so long before you are forced to move into the present moment as you move to the beat.

• Once we start dancing, we become one with the music. Let go of our inhibitions and have some fun!

Yoga

Meditation in motion

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