You’re now fully versed in the benefits of mindfulness and want to stick with it. In this post, I’ll share some proven tips on how to maintain a mindfulness practice for the long-term.
Sleeping in, working overtime, getting sick, and a burst pipe at home are just a few of the things that knock us off track with our daily practice. When life gets chaotic, it’s easier just to quit.
But we don’t have to. When the sh** hits the fan, our practice is what holds us together. It reminds us what’s important in life and who we want to be.
The following tips will help you to maintain a mindfulness practice in the midst of chaos, and find your way back on if you do happen to fall off.
Let go
Most of us are driven by the rewards of hard work. Things that we earn after a period of effort and struggle. Mindfulness is different. It can only happen when we let go.
The joy of mindfulness is in the doing, in the being. It’s not a goal you work towards, but something you allow to happen, moment to moment. The practice of mindfulness heightens your awareness and reminds you, this experience is available at any time of the day.
There is no pat on the back, or trophy, or cash prize, but the more you feel the focus, the calm, the flow, the more you will want to be in that space.
Do things you enjoy
There are hundreds of mindfulness practices for you to try. You don’t have to stick with things that you don’t particularly enjoy, or get any benefit from.
Continue to explore meditation, breathwork, body scan, progressive muscle relaxation, and mindful movement until you find a practice that you enjoy. If you can’t sit in peace, find peace in motion.
Set a specific time
We all struggle to squeeze things into an already packed schedule, but if you set a specific time for your mindfulness practice, instead of leaving it to chance, you’ll be able to maintain it much easier.
First thing in the morning is a great time to meditate, as is last thing at night. Hack away some of the waste at these times (news, social media, email) and make a daily appointment with yourself. You can use an alarm as a reminder, but once you’ve done it enough times, it will become a ritual that you don’t want to miss.
Create a mindfulness zone
One of the best ways to maintain a practice throughout life is to create a zone for it. Anything that’s important to you, that you want to keep doing, deserves its own dedicated space.
A mindfulness zone in your home, or place of work, helps to improve the quality of your practice and increase the likelihood that you will practice. You have the tools you need in a distraction free space, so you can focus on the work and enjoy the experience fully.
It doesn’t have to be expensive, or take up an entire room (a mat, or cushion is enough), but a dedicated zone makes a world of difference to your practice and helps to override the excuses, obstacles and friction.
Keep learning
Read mindfulness books, listen to mindfulness podcasts and guided meditations, watch mindfulness videos – the more you’re immersed in mindfulness, the more it becomes you.
I’ve made a list of recommended books which is a great place to start, and you can carve your own path from there. Maybe you’ll resonate with the words of Eckhart Tolle or Alan Wats, Jon Kabat-Zinn or George Mumford. There’s a wealth of insight just waiting for you.
Join a mindfulness community
A community of like minded and supportive people will help you to get more out of mindfulness. You’ll feel the bond of shared interests, learn new ideas, and help each other through good times and bad.
There are hundreds of mindfulness communities online and probably a few in your home town also. You can try some of them out until you find one that suits – and if you can’t, why not start your own? I prefer in-person interactions so often look for local events, classes and groups to get involved with. Life is better when you’re part of a community.
Hire a coach
I’m a big fan of coaching. I’ve learned so much from coaches in various disciplines over the years that have improved the way I practice and go about my business.
A mindfulness coach can teach you a range of mindfulness practices that help you to focus, relax and alleviate stress. They will help you to plan and stay consistent with your practice, while offering unique insights. Even a single coaching session can make a difference if you have a specific problem to solve.
Commit for the long-term
The benefits of any kind of practice, be it football, guitar, writing or meditation, compound over time. The more reps you complete and the longer you stick with something, the more you grow.
You become more skilful, more aware, more intuitive. You discover ways and efficiencies of practicing that only experience can teach you. You reach new levels and in the case of mindfulness, learn how to bring heightened awareness into every area of your life.
While the benefits of mindfulness are clear and immediate, make a long-term commitment to the practice. Carry it with you and everything will be different.
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Featured Image: @danielmingookkim
Read more
The Beginner’s Guide to Mindfulness
A Mindfulness Practice for Spring
A Mindfulness Practice for Summer