We recently read an article on ZenHabits.com about how to find "Islands of Ease" amid the chaos of life. Many of the tips felt a little too Zen for our lifestyle, but one spoke to us very plainly: "Spend at least 5 minutes each day doing nothing." This manageable, bite-sized task cultivates inner silence in small doses...
We get so tangled up in all the things we need to check off our to-do list, we sometimes forget how taking just a few minutes to sit still can make it much easier to untangle the chaos. If 5 minutes isn't enough, there are other ways to create space for silence throughout the day:
- Turn off the TV when you're not watching it.
- Do the dishes alone, without music or other background noises.
- Schedule a media fast at home.
- Get outside and go on a walk.
- Take some time for a bathtub meditation.
For more, read the full article from ZenHabits: How to Find Islands of Ease in the Chaos of Life. Photo: James and Rui's LVL Home
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Comments (3)
I am very confused by people who must have tv/radio/ipod/name-your-stimulus every waking hour. I don't meditate, but every day I need quiet time and if I don't get it I feel extremely agitated.
There is also the classic Zen Buddhist book: The Miracle of Mindfullness by Thich Nhat Hanh. I love it still.
For a Theravada Buddhist perspective (it's true-- there are other flavors of Buddhism!) try, www.dancingwithlife.org. Another favorite of mine is: A Path with Heart, by Jack Kornfield. Enjoy!
Man, this is a big one for me. I do NOT have the tv on unless I am absolutely watching it, and immediately turn it off when I'm finished or else I just can't think to do anything else.
My boyfriend that I live with? He wakes up in the morning, sits up, turns on the tv. When he goes to bed, he sits and watches tv for a few minutes, turns it off, immediately goes to sleep.
Good thing I love him enough to get over it. ;)