5 Ways to Stay Mindful When You're Always on the Go

As time inches closer, I know I’ll have to be practicing mindfulness at the hospital and may not be practicing it much at home. But the amazing thing about mindfulness is that there are some mindfulness techniques that can be done anywhere! Being in the present no matter where you are is a gift. The ways below are some of the easiest ways to practice mindfulness on the go! If you have any other ideas drop them below!

Some of these exercises may be the same as my Mindful Bear techniques, just think of these as being a mindful migrating bear, who's always on the go!

Tip #1: Use Guided Meditation
 With guided mediation you have a narrator leading you through your mediation, they'll help you visualize things better and focus your attention. There are a few websites and apps I found that may be useful to practice guided meditation on the go!

• UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center 

• Insight Timer (also on iOS and Android)

• Dharma Seed

• Mindful

Apps:

• Headspace (iOS, Android)

• Calm (iOS, Android)

• Smiling Mind (iOS, Android)
  

  
  
  
  
  

Tip #2: Incorporate Mindfulness into Your Daily Activities
It's time to be a mindful bear again! Use mindfulness, when doing whatever activity you're doing. Take time to stop and notice what you're doing, if you're walking focus on your feet touching the ground and the movement of your feet, if you're eating focus on the foods that you're eating, in all reality you can apply mindfulness to whatever your doing. Focus on your actions, and your feelings, and live in the present. 

Tip #3: Take Time to Breathe
Focusing on your breathing can lower your heart rate, and improve focus and concentration. All you have to do is breathe and focus on your breathing at the moment, if you're having trouble with learning how to breathe mindfully, diaphragmatic breathing, box breathing, 4-7-8 breathing, or alternate nose breathing are some suggestions, I provided an example for each of the techniques, all you have to do is click on the technique's name

Tip 4: Using Mindful Reminders
Sometimes, practicing mindfulness when we’re on the go has nothing to do with the techniques, it has to do with remembering to practice mindfulness. Times setting a reminder on your phone or on Post-it notes by your technology, to remind yourself to breathe, and practice mindfulness helps. I actually have a mindfulness app on my Apple Watch. You don’t even have to focus on breathing techniques if you’re willing to focus on your feelings in the present moment.

Tip 5: Practicing gratitude
Since gratitude and mindfulness go hand in hand, practicing gratitude is a great way to practice mindfulness. All you need to do when practicing gratitude is to stop and pay attention to appreciate the good things in life. You don’t need a journal or to keep a memo for all the things you’re grateful for, if you don’t want to. The option to include your gratitude in your meditation or breathing is there.

Conclusion

Just because you're on the go doesn't mean that mindfulness needs to stop. You can find ways to incorporate it into your routine no matter what's going on. If one tip doesn't work, go on to the next one, or create your own game plan. Practicing mindfulness can help everyone