Daily Mindful Activities
Updated: Nov 22, 2021
By Lynn Cukaj, ATR-BC www.CreativeExpressionsConsulting.com
Art Therapy for Children, Teenagers, and Adults
The goal of mindful activities is to bring us into the present moment. Throughout the day, we engage in a dozen activities. Whether it's making and/or eating breakfast, showering, getting ready for the day, stepping outside, or attending to a job. For many of us, we are on auto-pilot during these activities, unaware of our thoughts, behaviors, reactions, or feelings. The purpose of Mindful Activities is to go about our daily routine with intention and with heightened senses. Take a moment to notice what it is you see, hear, feel, taste and/or smell.
Below we use the example of going for a walk...
See
As you leave your home you immediately notice the bright blue sky, trees, and empty streets. As you pay closer attention you notice flowers along the sidewalk with a slight breeze causing them to tilt to their side every few moments.
Listen
Each time the breeze passes, you can hear the leaves rustling in the wind. Occasionally, you hear the hum of a car passing on a nearby street. Birds are chirping somewhere up above.
Touch
You notice the warmth of the sun and the coolness of the breeze. With each step you feel your foot landing and then pushing off from the pavement.
Taste
You stop to pick up a coffee for your walk. You hold the drink in your mouth for a moment to savor the taste. As you swallow that first sip, feel it leave your mouth and enter your body, warming it as it moves its way down.
Smell
When the breeze floats by, you catch the smell of the flowers and the trees. As you continue your walk, you notice the smell of freshly cut grass by a neighboring home.
You may use this Mindful Activities technique on a daily basis to pull you out of auto-pilot and bring you into the here & now.
For more therapeutic activities and resources on how to incorporate Art Therapy into your life, read more from Lynn's Creative Expressions Blog.
Learn more about Art Therapy and Lynn Cukaj, Board Certified Art Therapist here: www.CreativeExpressionsConsulting.com