5 steps to a mindful and joyful week!!

A mindful week? What does that even mean you ask.. Nowadays people are so busy in their lives, waking up counting on the alarm snoozed a couple of times, dragging yourself to work, crazy traffic, coffee on the go, running to the office to ensure that you are there on time, that your boss has everything in their desk before they arrive and make sure that they have their coffee and spoiled right in the morning so that at least the morning will start in a calm and sort of sooth way. Or maybe if you are the actual boss, you have a 100 duties on you, more responsibilities than you can actually take care of, living under constant pressure, deadlines on a daily basis, trying to trust your employees but you have an extreme difficulty in trusting someone besides you.

Well this sounds like a look on your shoulders and I didn't even mention during the day, how busy are you. However on the short term this can be doable however in the long term there will be severe effects on you, your health, mental, physical, emotional and financial life.

Now more than ever it is so important to try our very best to keep our life calm even just for a few minutes during the day, and this is where I want to share with you 5 steps to a mindful week:

1. Have a favourite mug: Most of you are a coffee lover or a tea love, or even just a beverage one. Through your crazy days you have no time to enjoy anything the proper way, then why not at least have a pretty cool mug or bottle that will boost your mood every time you hold it or take a sip from it, maybe customise it with your positive quote or your favorite cartoon. I can guarantee that this will make your day a bit better, it is not gonna sort your problems but definitely will assist you enjoying your day a little bit more;

2. Listen to your favorite music while commuting to work: It is confirmed that music can make a big difference in your life, and the melody has a different meaning and feeling for each person, maybe you like calm music, or pop music, you could like a Beethoven or opera or even a rock song, well whatever that is, if you drive take advantage of the speakers or radio in the car, if you need to commute by train, bus, bike, motorbike, whatever way of transport you use take advantage of your favorite headphones and put on that special music to your heart, body and soul, it will definitely put a smile on your face and a big boost in your mood for the rest of the day.

3. Avoid looking at the news first thing in the morning: Your activities in the first 30 minutes from the moment you wake up will determine the rest of your day. So if why not start your day doing some nice deep breathings, embrace the day, focus on positive thoughts and wishes, smile at you.

4. Get some fresh air for 5 minutes in the middle of the day: Nowadays every business park, as the name mentions, there will be a park with beautiful views (I used to work in a business park with beautiful lakes and lotus flowers of different colours, and the other side was straight into the sea, one could feel the sea breeze), and while in this park slow your pace and give a few deep breaths, really inhale the fresh air and let go all your worries for that couple of minutes, it will make a big different and help with brain fog.

5. Have a coffee break with a colleague that you connect with and talk about random things except work, it will help you build up friendships and create space in your mind and body for joy and pleasure and not only stress and pressure from the day.

Remember that you are not a machine and we all have feeling and emotions and we must take care of ourselves first. Self care is not selfish or laziness. Self-care is the beginning of a brand new you, a new you where love and happiness are part of your life, how you express yourself, talk to others, deal with situations and delegate.

One step at a time, one move at a time, one round at a time.

Be kind, be you!!

Paula Pereira

Yoga Instructor Health and Wellness Coach Reiki Master Therapeutic Tarot Reader