What if in our daily life we found easy ways to practise mindfulness, in simple words, be able to be present in the moment and not get ‘lost’ in our stressful lifestyle? These 5 simple exercises will help you to do so.

1.Mindful Breathing

Pay attention to your breath. It is something that you do without thinking about it, but being mindful about it, it  is very beneficial for your mental well being. You can do this one minute of mind-calming exercise, either first thing in the morning, or even as you cue in line  to pay the bills!

This exercise can be done standing up or sitting down, in the lotus position. Either way, all you have to do is be still and focus on your breath for just one minute.
Start by breathing in and out slowly. One breath cycle should last for approximately 6 seconds. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth, letting your breath flow effortlessly in and out of your body. Let go of your thoughts, the things you have to do, everything.Purposefully watch your breath, focusing your sense of awareness. Congratulations, you have just entered the world of meditation. 

2. Mindful Observation

This exercise is simple but incredibly powerful because it helps you notice and appreciate simple elements of the natural environment, something that it is easily missed in our stressful daily life.
Choose a natural object from within your immediate environment and focus on watching it for a minute or two. This could be a flower or an insect, or even the clouds or the moon.
Don’t do anything except notice the thing you are looking at. Simply relax into watching for as long as your concentration allows. Observe at this object as if you are seeing it for the first time. 

3. Mindful Listening

This exercise is designed to open your ears to sound in a non-judgmental way. Most of the sounds e.g. songs, we listen are connected to past experiences, some of them negative.The idea of this exercise is to listen to some music from a neutral standpoint. Select a piece of music you have never heard before. Ignore any labels and neutrally allow yourself to get lost in the journey of sound for the duration of the song.
Allow yourself to explore every aspect of track, the dynamics of each instrument and the vocals. Separate each sound in your mind and analyze each one by one. The idea is to listen without preconception or judgment of the genre, artist, lyrics or instrumentation. Don't think, hear.

4. Mindful Immersion

Most of the time, we do tasks, without paying attention. What if, we do our daily chores and at the same time cultivate contentment in the moment? Try this:  If you are cleaning your house, pay attention to every detail of the activity. Create an entirely new experience by noticing every aspect of your actions: Feel and become the motion when sweeping the floor, sense the muscles you use when scrubbing the dishes, develop a more efficient way of wiping the windows clean. Take the activity beyond a routine by aligning yourself with it physically, mentally and spiritually. Who knows, you might even enjoy the cleaning for once!

5. Mindful eating

Eating is something that we do several times a day but never think about it. On the other hand, it makes for an ideal mindfulness practise, since it is a multisensory experience.
To eat mindfully, means, first of all to pause. Take a moment before eating to notice the aromas, and the appearance of the dish. When you start eating, pay attention to each flavor in your mouth. Notice how the different ingredients blend in together, nourish each and every bite. Repeat. This simple exercise, is a good way, first of all, to appreciate the things you take for granted, secondly, a good daily mindfulness practise and as all of the exercises, mentioned, it will help you to relax during the day.