Everyday mindfulness is about maintaining an ‘open, accepting, present focus of attention during day-to-day life.’ There is increasing research suggesting that this stance is good for us:
- The more we adopt this stance the happier we are.
- A mindful approach to exercise both increases the benefits of exercise and also helps us to stick at the exercise regime for longer.
- A mindful approach to relationships leads to greater closeness and relationship satisfaction.
- Mindful eating leads to greater weight loss.
This paper finds something interesting – being ‘good’ at formal mindfulness meditation doesn’t correlate with being mindful in everyday life.
I think this is very freeing. Although I know that mindfulness meditation is very good for me, I find it hard to find time for sitting meditation in my busy life. Everyday mindfulness means that each moment I can make a decision to be open and present. And it looks like that has some serious benefits.
Working with ACT 
Interesting and relevant, Rachel.
In a similar direction, in Cashmere Shaivism “micropractices” of say 20 times 2 minutes of mindfulness are often preferred to 2 times 20 minutes. Or at least that’s what Daniel Odier mentions, for instance in his very interesting “Desire”.
Both easier to do for most people, and more likely to develop mindfulness as a trait…
I guess that the best would be both longer formal practices and regular micropractices, but I’m like you on this.
Maybe we’ll grow into that?
Best to all,
Maarten
Yes Maarten, I do hope that I will grow into sitting meditation being more a part of my daily life rather than an add on- but in the meantime….I like the idea of micropractices
Rachel
Loved this Rachel. Thanks! Reminder that I don’t have to be hard on myself when I don’t find the time to do a formal practice. That it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. That it can be 20 or 200 informal times a day instead of one formal. And who’s to say one is better than the other. Feels like a softer, gentler way of being with myself, and more likely to move me into a formal practice one of these days! I’ve always liked the phrase, “I wonder if I will….” rather than “I have to”, or “I commit to”. Lovely way to start my day.
Best,
Robyn
Thanks Robyn
I am definately in favour of approaches that are gentler. Freely choosing something feels so different to doing something because it feels like we should.
Rachel
Nice blog here! Also your site quite a bit up very fast!
What web host are you using? Can I am getting your affiliate
hyperlink on your host? I wish my web site loaded up as fast as yours lol