10 Things Mindful People Do Differently

How often do you read an entire page of a book or a blog post only to realize that you zoned out and can’t remember anything you read? (hey hey, z’woop! If that’s happening right now, come'on back to the present!) 😜

How often do you find yourself forgetting what you did a few moments ago because your mind is so full of other “stuff”?

How often do you walk into a room and suddenly can’t remember what you walked in there for?

If you are anything like the rest of humanity, the answer is probably “quite a lot.”

It’s so easy to get caught up in worrying...

Or shift into autopilot with our daily routines...

And to get lost in our mental “to do” lists.

If you recognize yourself in any of those examples, don’t beat yourself up about it. Do something to change it.

The way to change this mindlessness is becoming more mindful.

Mindfulness is about recentering your mind and reconnecting to your heart (or as some yogis say “dropping into your heart”, love that.)

Since practicing mindfulness, I’ve found that I can remember more and recall something I’ve forgotten much more quickly. Now, I’m not saying I don’t forget things, because that would be a straight up LIE (#realtalk)—but I have recognized this significant improvement in my memory and overall mental wellness.

I also started paying closer attention to what the mindful people in my life do that allows them to stay present.

One thing I’ve noticed is that mindful people find ways to use their daily tasks to practice mindfulness throughout their day. Blocking out time for things like breathing exercises and journaling is so important, but most of us only have small chunks of time to dedicate to that kind of focused practice.

And that’s okay!

Small steps [in the right direction] are better than zero steps. If we want mindfulness to become a part of our lives, then, well, we need to incorporate it into the daily rhythm of our lives!

I’ll let you in on a secret—I kind of love doing dishes. Stick with me on this! Doing dishes is a moment where I can sink into the present moment.

I notice how good the warm water feels on my hands.

I look out the window and notice the way the breeze is moving through the trees in the yard.

I notice the sweet, fresh smell of the dish soap I’m using and the shapes the suds make as they swirl down the drain.

Being present in that moment helps me quiet the monologue playing in my mind. The more we can practice that skill in small moments throughout the day, the easier it is to put it into practice when we’re experiencing stress, anxiety, and overwhelm.

Mindful people also find reasons to laugh every single day. Because when you’re present in each moment of your day, you realize, life can actually be really fun.

When you’re present, you hear and take in the hysterical things your kids say. You feed off their joy and fall into their smiles when they light up.

You notice the way the goofy dog in the car next to you is blissing out on feeling the wind flapping his wrinkly face.

You see the humor in the fact that you got up early to put on makeup and clean up your office space, then remembered that your big Zoom meeting is tomorrow. (No? Is that one just me? That’s okay!)

Here’s a list of things I’ve noticed mindful people do differently...

1. They don't believe their thoughts, and they don't take them all that seriously.

2. They don't try to avoid or deny emotions.

3. They understand that things come and go.

4. They practice focusing to strengthen their attention span.

5. They turn everyday, mundane tasks into mindful moments.

6. They practice being curious.

7. They get outside and embrace the beauty of nature.

8. They slow down when reading and take pauses to truly take the information in.

9. They laugh at least once a day.

10. They are able to hold on to their values while also feeling comfortable challenging their existing beliefs.

If this is all new to you, don’t expect to be perfect at it right away. (In fact, let’s throw that “perfect” word right out the window, okay? Remember, this is all about being 100% Human. It’s never going to be perfect!)

It took me years of unlearning our society’s addiction to a go-go-go mentality. Today I embrace the realization that I set the pace for my life. I can choose a rhythm that aligns with the quality of life I want.

Think about it this way…

When you board a plane you settle in and relax without knowing the pilot who’s flying. On a bus you enjoy the ride without knowing the person who’s driving. If you get on a boat you trust the captain without knowing her.

So why can’t you trust yourself, enjoy the ride, and relax more when you’re the one in control of the direction of your life?

Trust me, I know it’s easy to get caught up in the routine, the worry, the stress, the social media feeds, the shopping lists… But when you find yourself overwhelmed by the “busyness” of life, then it’s up to you to redirect your energy. And when you redirect it to slow down and become more mindful, you discover the magnificence of life.

Let’s not miss the moments that make life beautiful and create the magic.

What would it look like for you to slow down and appreciate life more? That’s the very essence of mindfulness.

Need some help figuring out what might be keeping you feeling stuck, stressed, or struggling? I put together a free quiz that will help you identify what’s getting in the way of you living a life that’s filled with joy and peace. Once you’ve got your results, I’ll send you a guide that explains your results so that you can start removing the barriers to building a life you love!