Mindfulness vs Mindlessness & How To Live More Intentionally

Do you ever find yourself moving through your day-to-day routine, and realizing that your actions seem repetitive? Without personal fulfillment? Do you think that everything you do is simply another item checked off your life’s to-do list? If mindfulness is your personal goal, then you have some work to do.

Daily tasks may not be exciting, but they aren’t meant to be done without purpose. You must first identify the parts of your life that are actually quite mindless if you are trying to live a more mindful life.

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What Is Mindfulness?

The definition isn’t overly complicated. A state of mindfulness is simply being aware and aware of your surroundings and your actions. There is no anxiety about the future or the past. Rather, you should live in the moment and allow your body and mind to feel how your surroundings and actions affect you.

There is no special training required. Consciously practicing mindfulness is the only way to attain a life of intention.

What is Mindlessness?

Think of living mindlessly as being automated. Your actions remain unnoticed by your own psyche as you act and move. They are merely routine functions that have no real significance. People are acting as if they are machines, diligently performing monotonous tasks on a continuous basis. This trap is easy to fall into, so people often do it without realizing it.

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How To Live With Intention

In any mindful journey, the first step is to recognize when we’re on autopilot. It’s stepping outside our perception of “routine” and stopping to notice how we are feeling as we move about our day. Listed below are a few ways you can identify when you’re passively moving through life…

• Routines feel stagnant, or too predictable.
• Goals previously set haven’t been met
• You lack the motivation to try new things
• When you complete a task so often, you barely notice it’s been done
• There’s a lack of excitement for what the day brings

Once you realize there’s a sense of mindless activity, you should acknowledge this and begin asking yourself insightful questions. Actively practicing mindfulness requires being open and honest with yourself. Here are some questions you can ask yourself to identify what’s significant to you and what matches your morals and values.

• Is there anything that excites me while performing this task? Why do I not enjoy it?
• Is there anything I can do to achieve this goal?
• How can I motivate myself to acquire new skills?
• Is there anything I can do to make this task more meaningful for me?
• The routine I am currently following is not exciting. Why is that?

Additional Mindful Exercises

To live more intentionally, there are a few ways you can do so. Include a few of these exercises in your daily routine. Don’t be afraid to follow your thoughts wherever they lead. You can learn a lot about yourself by observing the way your body and mind respond.

• Take a quiet walk, without music; listen to your surroundings and ask yourself how the environment makes you feel.
• Eat slowly; take your time to taste, and chew food. Ask yourself how each bite makes you feel.
• Take a break from your phone; even for a few minutes. Consider taking a moment to breathe, and asking yourself how you are feeling instead of mindlessly scrolling through social media. Be attentive to your body’s and mind’s signals. 
• Immerse yourself in conversation; don’t focus on what you’re going to say next, but listen to the person you’re speaking with. Be attentive to their words, expressions, and intentions. After that, respond thoughtfully.
• Meditate; even if you only have a few minutes to do so. Enjoy the silence and focus on where your thoughts take you.