7 Simple Mindfulness Exercises That Will Bring Ease and Joy To The New Year

With changing seasons and rhythms, it can often feel overwhelming adjusting to all the new. Often the new year brings with it new commitments, new schedules and new things to manage. If you’re like me, you still have gifts sitting under the tree looking for homes and Christmas decor that needs to be packed away. All this while at the same time recovering from a full and overwhelming holiday season. With less daily sunlight and colder days, it’s easy to feel the post-Christmas crash. 

Mindfulness and my daily mindfulness practices that I talked about on the blog here, have allowed me to be more present and aware during my day. Here are 7 mindfulness practices for you to try to help you maintain ease and joy in the New Year:

Give Gratitude

My mom had a small quilt hanging that said, “Have a gratitude attitude.” That phrase pops in my head often. Shifting our thoughts to the things we are grateful for is a huge game-changer.  I recommend taking time to write three things you are grateful for each morning. And if you want to take it one step further, revisit those three things at the end of the day. I have used this book, and it is a great start to get you in the practice of making this a daily ritual.

Write Down 2 Affirmations

Like gratitude, affirmations are a powerful way to reset negative thinking. The word affirmation comes from the Latin affirmare, originally meaning "to make steady, strengthen." By strengthening the inner voice through the words we use to speak to ourselves, affirmations are a powerful way to manifest our dreams and realities.

Start with three “I am” statements. For example, I am radiating joy and peace. Choose words that speak to you and are your own. As you write these statements, say them aloud and start manifesting!

Pause During The Day

For many mothers, rest usually comes at the end of the day, and more in the form of a crash. By being intentional about rest throughout the day, your body has time to learn to rest and reset without burnout. This can differ for everyone- it could be pausing before lunch and taking five deep breaths, or taking time in the afternoon to enjoy a cup of hot tea being mindfully aware of the steam as it rises from your cup or the warmth of the mug in your hand. Bringing intention to pausing and resting throughout the day will help you maintain energy for your daily tasks with the presence and capacity to carry tasks out.

Ask For Help

While this isn’t a specific practice, I think it is an important tool in becoming mindful of both your time and capacity on a given day or week.  Determine what you have the capacity for and what you don’t. If there is anything left, start thinking about what resources you have and where you can get help. When asking for help whether it’s from your kids, your spouse, family, or friends I find that it’s easiest when you can be clear and specific about what you really need.

Go To Bed

It can be easy at the end of a hard or busy day to want to just zone out watching your favorite Netflix show, mindlessly scroll social media, or cram in another couple hours of work to catch up. But the best thing you can do for yourself is to get a good sleep and start fresh in the morning. Try finding a yoga nidra or sleep meditation to help you drift off into a deep restful sleep.

Leave No Trace

Choose one space in your home such as the kitchen or bathroom.  Try leaving no trace that you’ve been in the room. If you do something in that room, such as cooking or showering, clean up in such a way that you leave no sign that you have been there. This practice helps us to learn to avoid the “clean it up later” tendency. Later often never comes, or you get to the point of being irritated or annoyed with the mess or with people who have not taken care of the mess. By leaving no trace our minds are clearer and our lives are less complicated. We also become more mindful of the variety of simple items that support us in carrying out our daily life. 

Pause When Answering Your Phone

So much of our life is lived unconsciously and with haste. By taking at least two deep breaths when you hear a phone ring or a text notification, you are allowing yourself to clear your mind, and answer with an open and available heart. This is such a powerful practice that once you get in the habit of doing can spread to other parts of your life. Through this practice we are learning to approach each encounter in our day with a fresh and present approach. 

These seven practices have helped me slow down, and be more mindful and present throughout the day.  As we shift into a new year, I hope that you can find these practices helpful to simplify your days and bring you more ease and joy.