Gardening is actually a sneaky form of meditation—
And the rewards are endless.
«When we're involved in something like gardening, we are very much able to, in the meditative sense, let go of our thoughts and be focused in the moment on what we are doing."»
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If racing thoughts or worries are keeping you awake, try one of these three mental tricks to fall asleep, straight from sleep doctors.
«To do it, you simply think up any random object with at least five letters, like “evergreen.” From there, you’d spell it out in your head, and for each letter of the word, think of as many words as you can that start with that letter. In this case, that might mean “eggs,” “echo,” “entryway,” and so on.»
Daily Steps Goal if You’re Walking to Improve Brain Health
A recent study that looked at walking to improve brain health found that logging this many steps per day boosts memory and cognitive function.
«“It’s advised to try to walk at least 30 minutes a day, but remember that 10 minutes is better than nothing,”»
Habit Stacking Will Trick Your Mind Into Adopting a New Habit
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«“Old habits are ingrained in our brains and likely represent really good entry points or 'triggers' for new ones to be built,”»
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How rituals can help you approach basic tasks more mindfully.
«Currey describes a ritual as an activity that eases a person into a focused mindset, a liminal state that is conducive for thinking, creating, or just being. “Rituals create and mark a transition towards a different kind of mental or emotional state,” he said. This can look different for every person, but it’s helpful to approach rituals as a soothing, meditative activity that allows the participant to be physically and mentally present»
We’re Always Training Something
By Leo Babauta Every day, we go through a set of actions that is training our minds in the long term. Sometimes we’re training intentionally: we meditate, practice focus, get ourselves to start a…
«would I like to spend more time actually caring about each task and activity, giving it my full attention»
Nobody optimizes happiness
People don’t seem to try very hard to make themselves happier. Why not?
«could this explain why people chase after vague goals rather than trying to build concrete lives they’ll enjoy living?»
How Do You Live in the Present?
Are you wondering how to live in the present? Here are some tips to help you be more mindful in the moment.
«If you're working on something, give it all of your attention. When you find yourself thinking about other things or checking your phone because you don't feel like doing the task at hand, stop and turn that focus back to what's in front of you. Research shows that when you are fully focused on what's happening at that moment, you can better remember details in the long term anyway.»
The 8 fundamental habits of the calmest people
I had a great childhood, but I was quick to anger and would often throw tantrums. This reactivity manifested as fidgety overthinking and anxiety in later life. It took years for me to see the…
«They are intentional about being open to this supply of energy and wisdom that stressed people are not.»