Do you ever find yourself rushing around, trying to do three things at once and never feeling as if you have time to take a breath? And then, when you do finally stop and take a rest, you fall into patterns of scrolling social media or binge-watching whatever you happen to find first on your streaming service?

Believe me, you’re not alone. I’m sure a lot of humans swing between being mindlessly busy and being mindlessly idle. And that can lead to a general sense of malaise and dissatisfaction with your life. It’s a cycle that prevents you from feeling a sense of achievement in the tasks you complete and also prevents you from feeling the benefits of true relaxation.

But don’t worry – there’s technique you can apply to everything you do, which will help you feel like you’re really winning at life, no matter what you’re focusing on. It’s all about intention.

When you fill your time with busywork or mindless media consumption, it will inevitably slip away from you and you’ll be left wondering what you actually did with your day.

However, if you bring a sense of true awareness to whatever you’re doing, you will fully experience each present moment as you pass through it. All you need to do is be intentional about how you spend your time.

Think about what’s on your to-do list, make a conscious choice about what to tackle next, take a moment to set your attention and focus on one thing at a time. If you need to sort the laundry, do it in a steady and measured way, really sinking into the sensations of the clothes under your hands and how they fit neatly in to the drawers. Take pleasure in the knowledge that you have clean underwear tidily stored away and garner a sense of satisfaction in a job well done.

And, when it’s time to take a rest, give yourself permission to stop and relax, and really think about how you can best spend your time to restore your energy. There’s nothing wrong with watching TV or looking at Instagram, if you make a conscious choice to do so and approach it in a way that allows you to fully enjoy what you’re doing.

So, next time you find yourself rushing through your tasks, feeling overwhelmed, or zoned out in front of the TV, with no idea what you’ve just watched – stop, take stock and be more intentional about what you’re doing. Life is precious but involves a lot of things we can’t avoid doing – so make positive choices, find the joy and satisfaction in whatever you need to focus on, and really relish the times when you get to relax.

Give it a try and let me know how it goes, or if there’s anything in your life you’d like my thoughts on!

 

You can email me at wisebearstanley@gmail.com

You can buy my book (all about building a better relationship with yourself).

You can sign up for my monthly newsletter with exclusive journal prompts.

And don’t forget to follow me on Instagram – @wisebearstanley – for cute photos, advice videos and meditation with Moomintroll!

You can also find me on Twitter and Bluesky – @wisebearstanley

And you can buy Stanley merch!