How to Live a Zen Lifestyle

- Rise Early

This is easier said than done. Mornings can be difficult and not everyone enjoys parting from their be. Our eyes can feel bleary and our brains foggy.

Once you can get started, every step after this will help you become an early riser. Every day begins with getting out of bed, and that is the only reason it is the first thing on the list.

Even if it isn't easy at first, once you start it is amazing how much extra stuff you can achieve in just a day.

SOME HELPFUL TIPS:

Don't touch the snooze button.

Have a shower straight away

Sit up in bed and stretch

Drink a glass of cold water

Eat something (even just a snack)

Go over your today's to-do list

Early birds know that waking up early keeps them organised, focussed and productive. The world is quiter in the morning. Use this time as me-time.

Early Birds will know that waking up early keeps them organised, focussed and productive. If nothing else, the world is quieter in the morning. Use this time as me-time.

- Exercise

Exercise is important and we could be doing more of it. You don't need to have a gym membership or expensive equipment. Get motivated to move. It can be daunting at first. In fact the more you think about it, the less appealing it gets, so just do it. Go for a walk, doing morning yoga...

Living a zen lifestyle doesn't mean you need to pump iron for an hour everyday. Any sort of exercise is good for your brain and your body.

Exercise is a fantastic way to release stress and tension because while you're busy concentrating on your body, the mind can find clarity. Give your mind a break while exercising.

Just 20 minutes every day can contribute enormously to a zen attitude. Just go your own pace.

- Declutter

It may not seem like the most appealing list so far. Get up early, do some exercise, and clean your house? These are not everyone's favourite activities. Think about it though. Have you ever seen a zen environment that is messy?

The zen lifestyle is one of clarity. It involves looking beyond our materialism and learning to value our individual selves. Just take a look at the science of a clean environment. People who describe their home negatively in terms of clutter and mess are more likely to be stressed and experience adverse health effects. People who characterise their homes with attributes of cleanliness and order are found to be happier and healthier.

Decluttering is a purge of your material things, and by removing items that no longer matter to you, that don't spark joy, you eliminate these mini-stressors from your life. A zen home is a tidy home, and a tidy home is a zen mind.

- Take a Breather

To be zen is to be mindful and to possess an awareness of the self. Know your strengths and weaknesses and embrace them. When you feel bogged down, take a break.

Most of us don't have the means to go on vacation every second week, but that doesn't mean that you can't give yourself a break.

Working in sprints is the key to maximising efficiency, and multitasking is actually the bane of productivity. Taking a breather provides a mental pause, allowing you to shift gears, gather your thoughts and contemplate your next movement.

Grab a bite to eat, take a walk, do some stretches or have a chat to someone. By allowing yourself time to step away and switch off, even if it's just for a few minutes, you can return to a task recharged rather than stressing and fretting about potential deadlines. Find a balanced system of work and rest that you can thrive in.

- Meditate

Meditation is something that everyone can do. It's something that can be done wherever, whenever. A lot of the time it is associated with big, grassy fields, calm lagoons or rainforest retreats: place that are beautiful and earthy.

Meditation is most effective somewhere quiet and comfortable. Being outside in the fresh air is ideal, but not necessary - the lounge room can serve you just as well. Sitting in silence with your legs folded isn't for everyone, but meditation is flexible. Lie on your back or sit with your legs out. Listen to your breathing, externalise your thoughts if you want. Talk to yourself and listen to what you have to say.

Guided meditation apps are great for those who are new to the zen lifestyle. Meditation can leave you feeling lighter and more free.

- Treat Yourself

There are so many ways you can spoil yourself while still living a zen lifestyle. Activities that you enjoy and find relaxing are so important to incorporate into your everyday routine. This can be drinking tea, reading, crosswords or puzzles, knitting or cooking, curating your pinterest boards, taking phots, watching your favourite show, or anything else you love to do. Find solace in what makes you happy.

If you are feeling uninspired or tense after a long day, tapping into your zen can prove difficult. You don't always have to go it alone. There are services available to help you find your inner peace.

- Don't Neglect Sleep

You can see that you have come full circle. You've just completed the first day of your zen life! Now you can begin a healthy sleep pattern.

Falling asleep can be a challenge for some people, the same as waking up in the morning. Using meditation or having a zen massage before you go to bed are both excellent ways to settle the mind and calm the body. Prepare to wind down before you go to sleep. A clear mind not only makes falling asleep a smoother process, but can result in better and more complete sleep. Waking up early is far easier when you have had a restful sleep.