I had fun with this post.
I usually talk about topics that are heavy and deep, but this one is lighter.
This topic is one in which I think about every single day.
Mindfulness, which is the act of staying fully present in the moment, has many mental health benefits. If you’ve read my articles in the past, I write extensively about the power of mindfulness. It’s been a cornerstone of my healing trauma from my past and managing my anxiety and depression.
Yet many people still aren’t exactly sure of how mindfulness relates to their life – what mindfulness activities constitute as mindfulness? The answer varies depending on who you talk to, but almost any activity can encompass the practice of mindfulness.
A few questions to ask yourself when thinking of mindfulness activities:
What activities tend to pique my interest?
What activities fill me with a sense of joy?
After you’ve answered both – you’ll have an idea of what mindfulness activities to pursue.
50 MINDFULNESS ACTIVITIES YOU CAN PRACTICE
- Focus on your breath
- Lose yourself in a novel
- Go for a long bike ride
- Clean a room in your home
- Meditate
- Focus on the sensations within your body
- Watch a sunrise
- Cook or bake your favorite meal
- Play a board game with family or friends
- Practice gratitude for the people you love
- Listen to a song that lights your soul on fire
- Go for a peaceful hike
- Do a set of pushups
- Stop and smile for no reason
- Enjoy the water of your morning shower
- Play your favorite video game
- Watch the birds interact with each other
- Follow a plane in the sky
- Call your best friend and catch up
- Walk outside and breathe the fresh air
- Sit by the ocean or body of water
- Hit the links and go golfing
- Pay close attention to the bottoms of your feet as you walk
- Listen to a comedian you dig
- Enjoy a small bonfire with your friends
- Close your eyes and envision your future self
- Thank a hero in your life
- Hit some balls at the batting cage
- Work on a puzzle
- Create a self-challenge
- Practice gratitude for the food you have to eat
- Make a list of your weekly goals
- Take a quick trip on the treadmill
- Volunteer at a nonprofit near and dear to your heart
- Lose yourself in a good movie
- Get some yard work done
- Call an old friend you haven’t spoken to in awhile
- Take a swim or dip your feet in the water
- Discover new music on a streaming service
- Close your eyes and feel your current emotion
- Describe everything in your current environment
- List all of your dreams
- List all of your fears
- Sit up straight and practice good posture
- Throw a football or baseball around
- Kiss that special someone for no reason
- Walk into the woods and stare at a tree for ten minutes
- Go to a Yoga class
- Watch a sunset
- Play a card game
IN REVIEW
The critical ingredient of mindfulness activities is to get lost in the present moment. Worrying about the future and ruminating over the past brings us unneeded pain and suffering. But focusing on the present moment brings a level of clarity and peace of the mind. If you have a tough time focusing, you may want to speak to a mental health professional or a doctor. But start with practicing mindfulness by focusing on your breath. The quicker you can master that, the more you’ll begin making mindfulness your default state of mind.
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