Okay, how zen are you? And no, this isn’t a contest. It will fluctuate day to day and moment to moment. It is widely known that stress (read un-zen) leads to a whole host of health problems, including over eating and cravings, anxiety, chronic illness, and lots more. Think of it as “chronic inflammation of the mind.” Luckily, there are some habits you can adopt to reduce this chronic inflammation of the mind and the trickle down affect on your human suit is amazing!
Now each persons zen habits will look an feel differently, because they are uniquely YOURS. They will sparkle for you but not always translate to others. So instead of copying someone else’s or my zen habits, I challenge you to cultivate your own list of sparkling zen habits!
Here are some examples of zen habits inspired by Leo Babauta:
1. Set your 3 Most Important Tasks for each day. (Iist the night before)
2. If you feel overwhelmed, declutter something.
3. Move your body, to move your mood.
4. Keep a gratitude journal.
5. Eat green things or have a green smoothie.
6. Technology-free before bedtime.
7. Rest on the weekends. (no work)
8. Single-minded focus. (Focus on one task at a time).
For me, decluttering my house really helps me to refocus and recharge. A few months ago I had a major clear out and I felt so empowered afterwards. I was inspired into action by a friend of mine from Australia. She told me that she had accumulated so much rubbish over the years that she actually had to contact the best company specializing in rubbish removal st kilda had to offer to take care of all her junk. The relief once all her old rubbish had gone was unlike nothing she had ever experienced before.
Anyway, on my personal zen habits list I like to include along with some from above:
1. Create something.
2. Meditate.
3. Ground.
4. See through the lens of love + gratitude.
5. Expect miracles.
6. Be Present.
***TIP: Get your kids involved! Have them create lists and decorate their own too! ****
Guidelines for creating your own:
1. Use your words and make them sound fun to YOU. If you want “create something” to be on your habits list, but that sounds far from peaceful to you….change it to your words. Doodle? Color? Paint? Sing? Play?
2. Make sure they feel doable. For example, on my list I say “meditate” now some days this happens in a few 1 minute chunks but most days I make time for longer sessions. You might want a zen habit to be “move for just 5 minutes” so that it is achievable no matter what your day is like.
3. Try to use positive wording and phrasing in your zen habits. Avoid using “don’t” type words. So instead of, “don’t play on phone before bed” maybe you say, “Technology free bedroom.” This could even be helpful to use with children where if you take a look at these kids sleeping facts, plus a few others then it will tell you that leaving technology out of the room could be the best for your child’s sleep routine. Therefore, maybe phrasing it in a more positive way will help them to accept this change.
4. Check in with your inner guide. She’s in there, I promise! Check it and see which of the habits on your list really make your Soul happy.
5. Put them where you can see them. Don’t just write them in your journal. Hang them for you to see. Frame them? Put them as the backdrop on your computer, tablet or phone? Make sure they are there to serve as reminders.
Happy zen habit-ing!