4 Simple Yet Powerful Mindful Techniques to Help You Regain Balance

Engaging in these practices will help you stay grounded

Do you know what I love most about the holidays?

It’s that special time of year when I can get away from the chaotic stress-ridden world and focus more on myself by being fully present.

Most holidays fill me with chaos and stress. I’m preparing food, visiting family, and keeping my kids from driving each other crazy.

But this year’s Thanksgiving was different. While I missed our holiday traditions, I was grateful for the quiet time where I could be fully present. And I did just that — I relaxed and reconnected with myself.

Having more free time gave me a chance to appreciate and find joy in every activity. I engaged in several activities that have helped me regain balance and emotional stability. Most importantly, I realized more than anything how important they are in my everyday life.

Here are four things that I did.

I practiced meditation

On my regular days, I’d jump out of bed, make myself a coffee, and get straight to writing. Then my kids would wake up and I’d instruct them in their schoolwork. Those days are usually the most stressful for me.

But during the Thanksgiving break, I experienced relaxed carefree mornings for three straight days. It was peaceful and quiet because I didn’t have to go through a hectic morning rush.

On those days, I took more time to sit with my thoughts and meditate.

After I did this for three days, I realized that I need to do this every day — not just on holidays. Research shows that meditation can help fight stress and reduce anxiety and depression.

Anyone can benefit from deep breathing and relaxation. We’re all busy in life but taking as little as 10 minutes in the morning to meditate is essential for a peaceful mind. And that little time you take for yourself will clear negative thoughts and prepare you for the day ahead.

All you have to do is slowly get out of bed, make yourself comfortable on a chair or couch, and think about nothing for 10–15 minutes. Just take a deep breath and meditate. Focus on the present.

I engaged in mindful eating

I didn’t rush to get through my meals and jump straight to my tasks. Taking my time and enjoying homemade Thanksgiving dishes helped me enjoy being present in the moment. Before Thanksgiving, I was always in a rush to get things done so I could use every bit of time I had to write. As a full-time homeschooling mom, I felt like I never had a spare minute.

This time, I was more mindful of what I was eating and savored every bite. It made me realize it’d been such a long time since I truly appreciated sitting down and I enjoyed what I was eating.

It was a heavenly experience. What also added to this experience was a quiet relaxing family atmosphere with warm pumpkin-spice scented candles on the kitchen table.

I learned that mindful eating is also essential for mental well-being.

Implementing mindful practices isn’t as hard as it seems. The key is to create a comfortable environment where you can relax and enjoy your meal.

For example, you can set up a little nook in the kitchen or living room where you can sit down peacefully to enjoy a cup of tea or coffee. Pick your favorite light dessert that won’t overly fill you. Take small bites and eat your food slowly.

Try to eliminate noise, or listen to soft relaxing music. Also, you should avoid any technology while you’re eating mindfully. Leave your phone or tablet in another room. Try to be present and enjoy the moment as much as possible and don’t think about anything. Just focus on savoring and enjoying your food or drink.

I reconnected with nature

On my Thanksgiving break, I spent a lot of time outside and reconnected with nature. I loved the feel of fresh chill of November air along with the smell of pine trees enveloping my senses. I was fully present.

I learned that being connected with nature is essential for our mental health too. The more you take the time to observe the scenery, the more relaxed your mind will be. And walking in nature is a great form of physical exercise too.

You don’t have to go for a lavish vacation retreat to get fresh air and see green spaces. A simple walk around your neighborhood or park will help you get into a peaceful state of mind. And research supports that fact that walking in nature can help you achieve a state of well-being.

As you walk, engage all your senses: see, smell, hear, and touch. Focus on being present. Look around the trees. Tune in to the sounds of nature. Observe the rustling of leaves and distinct smells of greenery. Feel the touch of the cool air on your face or feel the path beneath your feet.

I avoided multi-tasking

Having more time to myself meant I didn’t have to multi-task as much. And I learned that focusing on one task at a time makes me less stressed and more efficient.

Research shows that multi-tasking can decrease your productivity by as much as 40%. The reason is, when you quickly switch from one task to the next, you aren’t fully focused and engaged on any of them. It’s better to avoid doing many tasks at once and focus on completing each one at a time.

Another downside of multi-tasking is that you make mistakes and accidents happen. When we tackle several tasks at once, our brain is less efficient. And you can avoid things like forgetting hamburgers on a pan while doing something else or omitting an important task because you’re working on something else at the same time.

Unless you’re doing something like waiting for your pasta water to boil — in which case you can do something else in the meantime — you should avoid multi-tasking. When mistakes happen as a result of multitasking, it zaps your mental brain energy and you’ll feel more stressed in the end.

The bottom line

Mindfulness is essential to life and achieving well-being. When you need to slow down in life, mindful techniques can help you regain balance. Mindfulness helps you to connect with yourself and stay in the present. You can achieve mindfulness through meditation, mindful eating, connecting with nature, and performing tasks one at a time.