Mindfulness has gone mainstream and we’re now seeing it mentioned in workplaces, schools, and in the media. We hear people talking about it every day, but what does it really mean? And how can you incorporate it into your daily life?
How about being mindful during your coffee break? When we think of coffee, we think of delicious, brewed coffee beans that wake us up and help us concentrate. For many people, it’s the only way to start a new day. For others, it’s a great pick-me-up for mid-afternoon.
But there’s a good chance you don’t think of meditation or mindfulness when you think of coffee. By the end of this post, however, you may look at things differently. Before we at JialeCoffee.com get into how coffee can help you with mindfulness, let’s take a look at what it means to be mindful first.
What Does it Mean to Be Mindful?
You hear the term “mindfulness” mentioned more today than ever before, but what does it really mean? The simplest answer is that mindfulness is the ability to be present completely in the moment. This means that whatever you are doing, you are doing it with all of your senses.
We live in such a fast-paced world these days, and multi-tasking is not only the norm, but even encouraged. However, when we are forced to switch from one task to another frequently, it lowers our performance on any of those tasks. It can also lead to increased stress and anxiety.
Practicing Mindfulness with Coffee
Did you know that an easy way to start practicing mindfulness is during your coffee breaks each day? If you have your coffee first thing in the morning, this is a great time to take a few moments to slow your mind and racing thoughts.
The minutes that go by as you brew your coffee, or when you sit down with that perfectly brewed fresh cup might be some of the most peaceful moments of your day. It’s all about learning to tap into that time, slow down, be aware of all of your senses, and take it all in.
You can do this with a plain cup of black coffee. It doesn’t have to be a fancy brew. You can do this with any type of coffee you enjoy.
Here are some things to do to practice mindfulness:
- Sit still
- Turn off all noise makers (phones) and other distractions
- Close your eyes and focus on what you hear
- Focus on what you feel in your space – Are you sitting on a chair? Is it soft or hard? Are your feet on the ground or propped up?
- Now open your eyes
- What do you see around you? What colors and shapes or items are in your view?
- Now focus on the smells around you
- Bring your cup of coffee toward your face and notice the aroma
- How does the smell of your coffee make you feel?
- Continue to go through the senses as you enjoy your cup of coffee
One of the biggest struggles people have when they are new to mindfulness is with feeling like they are “wasting time”. It is not a waste to take time for yourself, to get centered and focused, and to clear your mind of stress or worries. It’s actually a very good way to spend your time, since there are so many benefits. Let’s look at a few.
Benefits to a Mindful, Relaxing Break
We live in such a fast-paced world, it’s normal to feel like taking time for mindfulness is a waste, or that it’s taking you away from the many other important things you should be doing. However, it’s important to understand the benefits that come from even just five minutes of mindfulness in your day.
When you make this a regular part of your routine, there are several benefits you can experience. These include:
Reducing Anxiety
You can experience less anxiety when you take time to be mindful each day. If you make it a part of your morning coffee routine, then you will be starting your day on a fresh note, and it can decrease anxiety symptoms that you feel throughout the day.
There are many different things that contribute to anxiety from genetics to trauma and even medical conditions. But a common reason many people experience anxiety today is that they are always so busy. We have a hustle culture now, and it can build up in the body and mind as stress and anxiety.
Increased Memory
Mindful meditation and coffee breaks can also help increase memory and boost your brain power. The caffeine in coffee can help with memory (as long as you don’t overdo it) and mindfulness as an exercise will also help with memory. It’s a win-win.
Help with Mood Swings
If you find yourself experiencing mood swings throughout the day, they may get better when you take regularly mindful coffee breaks. Mood swings can happen to anyone but when we are overworked or overwhelmed, they can be worse. Small and large mood swings are a normal part of everyday life but mindfulness can help you manage them and regulate your mood.
How to Improve Your Mindful Coffee Break
If you really want to make the most of your coffee breaks, here are some additional tips:
- Invest in high quality coffee or your personal favorite coffee, whatever that is.
- Be sure to disconnect yourself fully from the internet, phone, TV, and other distractions.
- Take some deep breaths as you bring yourself into the moment.
- When you are finished, take a few moments to recognize how you feel.
- Don’t rush right back to your tasks.
- Consider journaling your thoughts at the end.
As always, take what works for you and drop the rest. If you’re stressing about how to do it or doing it “right”, then you miss out on the benefit it brings.
Bringing it All Together
Now that you have a good understanding of what mindfulness is and how you can incorporate it into regular coffee breaks you’re taking already, all that’s left is to establish the new habit. Coffee is a mood-booster.
It’s a stress reliever and it helps to energize your body, almost instantly from that first sip. You can take the benefits of coffee to the next level when you also learn to be mindful about your daily cup?
