Happiness often feels just out of reach, as if you’d be content if only a few things were different.

You are aware that happiness is crucial, but you continue to put it off since you do not have the time to give your inner joy top priority.

However, you are aware that meditation would be beneficial, but you are unsure of how you would find the time to sit quietly and practice meditation.

Since our health and well-being are of utmost importance, we would ideally plan times each day to attend to our health needs. However, no matter how hard we try, we will eventually encounter moments when we are occupied all day. I have been there, I know.

I relocated to the country a few years ago in order to pursue a career as a freelance journalist. I had no time to concentrate on my mental health because I was working nonstop for less than minimum wage.

The tension of life grew intolerable. And even while I knew that meditation would help me reduce my stress, I just could not figure out how I would ever find the time to practice.

My joy sank more and farther away. Anxiety increased. Anxiety struck strong. And since I had little free time, I was unable to find a solution to end my suffering.

I knew the secret was meditation. I simply did not have the time. So I decided. I would look for ways to meditate while still being busy rather than doing it the old-fashioned approach, which involved sitting motionless and doing nothing. In this manner, I could work on my happiness while still doing my tasks.

Being mindful was crucial.

I was able to meditate while completing tasks by just being in the here and now.

For me, this completely changed the game. All of a sudden, I had plenty of time to engage in mindfulness exercises since I could still be productive.

I was alert all day and all night. I would read my emails, take walks, and eat meals with awareness. I would do whatever I had to do with awareness.

All of a sudden, I was incorporating mindfulness into my life instead of lacking the time to meditate.

During this time, all mindful moments were beneficial. However, I found 10 mindful techniques to be really beneficial. And I continue to employ these strategies even though I now have a much healthy schedule and take care not to overcommit.

These methods will help you increase your mindfulness while conserving time, whether you are in the middle of a hectic period or are searching for an alternative to traditional seated meditation.

1. Walk mindfully.

One of the world’s most soothing forms of exercise is walking. However, thinking too much can easily ruin a nice walk. As you stroll, pay attention to your surroundings and your five senses. As an alternative, try Zen walking, which involves meditating on the sensation of movement in your legs.

2. Eat mindfully.

One of the best things we can do for our bodies and minds is to eat with awareness. We become more conscious of the food we eat when we eat thoughtfully. This increases our likelihood of eating properly and increases our appreciation of food and the digestive process. When eating, take your time and concentrate on the food.

3. In a queue? Meditate.

This is a fantastic time-saver. While waiting in line, practice meditation. Why not take advantage of the fact that you could remain there for several minutes and that you are standing motionless doing nothing?

Shut your eyes and pay attention to your breathing. Or, if you find it awkward to close your eyes in public, look at a wall or another unobtrusive object while concentrating on your breathing. This is a fantastic method to genuinely utilize time that might otherwise be squandered.

4. Meditate on the bus.

My all-time favorite mindfulness exercise is this one. In an effort to reduce emissions, I regularly use the bus, and my journeys last anything from thirty minutes to well over an hour. That would be a complete waste of time. However, I do get something out of my bus ride when I meditate.

For my part, I always enjoy sitting with my eyes closed and appearing somewhat amusing while doing so. Keep your eyes open and only lower your look to a 45-degree angle if you would rather not draw attention to yourself. Now pay attention to your breathing.

5. Exercise with body and mind.

Frequently, while we are working out, our minds are still racing with ideas. A huge error. Exercise is a useful tool for mental and physical training. When we workout, all we have to do is concentrate.

This works better for some workouts than others. Running can also be a fantastic option, and yoga, tai chi, and qigong are all great mental and physical workouts. Other workouts, like lifting weights and playing competitive team sports, are not as suitable.

6. Actually watch the TV.

How many times do we turn on the television without paying any attention to it? While deciding what to make for supper or what we need to do at work, a random show is playing in the background. This causes a gap between what is happening in our minds and what is happening in reality. Additionally, this is bad for mental health.

When watching TV, give yourself at least an hour to view an episode in its entirety. Pay attention to the show. Additionally, switch off the TV when it is over.

7. Lie down in body and mind.

Naturally, lying down is an act of rest. However, lying down allows the body to relax while the mind continues to work. How often do you worry about the next day before you go to bed? Such times do not constitute true rest, and they most definitely do not promote restful sleep.

We should lie down with our minds as well as our bodies. Concentrate on the body to do this. At repose, pay attention to your body.

Start by concentrating on your head’s crown. Take note of the feelings present. Is there conflict? If so, picture inhaling clean air into that space. The clean air calms. It relieves the tension.

After you have loosened the top of your head, repeat the procedure on your forehead.

Proceed one step at a time, passing through your mouth, nose, eyes, neck, and so forth, until you reach your feet.

At this point, your whole body will feel completely relaxed. Pay attention to it. Pay attention to your whole body. Pay close attention to the feeling of calmness. Keep your mind there, your awareness dispersed across your entire body.

Both mentally and physically, this is lying down. It is one of the greatest methods to revitalize the mind and a very calming experience.

8. Really listen.

A good listener is adored by all, and listening may also be a conscious practice. All we have to do is listen intently to whoever is speaking. By doing this, we only pay attention to the sound of the other person’s voice without evaluating their voice, what they are saying, or our own response.

9. When working, work.

To be perfectly honest, unless our supervisor is there next to us, the majority of us do not give our task our full attention. Rather, we are considering how we would prefer to be at home or out having fun, and how we want to leave the office. However, while we are at work, daydreaming about not working just makes us unhappy.

We truly start to appreciate our employment when we give our best to the work we are doing. Thus, when you write, write. Sell while you can. And pay attention to what that irate customer has to say. By doing this, work will no longer feel like a drudgery but rather like a mindful, enjoyable activity.

10. Listen to the kettle and meditate on the drink.

As an Englishman, I enjoy drinking far too much tea and turn on my kettle far too frequently during the day. (At least I have that going for me because it is often green.)

Meditation on a cup of tea or coffee is one approach to enhance its flavor. Think about how the kettle sounds while it is boiling. Pay attention to how the tea or coffee is made. Additionally, drink with awareness. This will increase your present-moment awareness and help you appreciate the drink more.

It is not necessary to be mindful. While performing our necessary tasks, we can practice mindfulness. And without wasting time, we may improve our health and happiness in the process.

The ten suggestions we have examined offer time-saving strategies to increase awareness. There are also a lot more comparable suggestions.

How do you prefer to practice mindfulness?