From Chaos to Calm: Embracing the Meditative Potential of Everyday Activities

Meditation is often associated with hippie-dippy types that enjoy Save the Turtle rallies and a brunches filled with tree bark and water soup. Some meditation is like that! And it can be really enjoyable. Try taking a deep inhale and letting out a soothing OOOOmmmmm on the exhale. Three to four rounds of Om can do wonders to reset an agitated or anxious mind.

However, not all meditation has to be this style. There are plenty of tasks that can become meditative by getting the mind into a calm, auto-pilot state that will serve to quiet the cascade of thoughts that constantly bombard the conscious brain.

These activities will be different for different people. What activities can be meditative? Slicing and dicing food is a repetitive task that can be calming and allow for contemplative introspection. Gardening and yard work also fit into this category. As do cleaning tasks like vacuuming or sweeping. Looking for something less active? Take time to mindfully make tea or coffee, then sit and enjoy it - preferably outdoors - free from digital distractions. Many times people think that they need a cup of coffee or tea to get reinvigorated, when what they truly need is the tea ceremony.

Take time to identify these meditative activities and make time to enjoy them everyday. It does not have to be a task that takes up a large amount of time. Oftentimes, just 10-15 minutes will do the trick.

OOOOOmmmmm!