It's that time of the year when stillness is hard to find. Life becomes more chaotic and mindfulness is hard to practice. Living in a world that never stops moving and an environment where deadlines are runners of the day, it's almost hard to not explode with it all. Exams are drawing nearer by the day and with it comes the last minute rush where everyone is struggling to meet up with deadlines, projects and assignments. Of course, I almost slipped into panic mode like every other of my course mates but I realized something. I have been here before and I know how this cycle goes. And I know that if I do not slow down and be mindful, I might break from physical and mental exhaustion. So, I drafted out ways to live intentionally, stay mindful and be still amidst the chaos.
Four days in a week, I have to be in school by 8 in the morning. I decided to set an alarm that wakes me up by 5 to get ready and prepare for the day. I have realized that how I start my day determines how I navigate it, whether I am disorganized or centered. So, when I wake up, I don't just roll right into notifications and pixels. I sit in bed for minutes just staring at the wall, centering myself and resonating with the quietness around me. On some days, I drink a cup of warm water (I heard it helps regulate the digestive system), and on other days I write and plan how I want my day to go. When I do this, I instantly feel at peace and I tackle the day with positive energy.
During the weekends, I take time to clean my room. I actually like cleaning and rearranging. There's something that is peaceful about it. For me, it's like a sort of therapy. I like to get into the rhythm of going back and forth while mopping or sweeping. I like to get my bed laid in freshly laundered sheets. This builds my anticipation for rest at the end of the day. I recently heard about something called feng shui
Feng shui is a traditional Chinese practice that involves arranging your environment to create balance and harmony with the natural flow of energy, or chi, to promote well-being, prosperity, and positive outcomes in life.
And I practiced this. I realized that rearranging, deleting, decluttering and balancing actually helped me recenter. I deleted irrelevant photos, unused apps, made my phone display neater, organized my kitchen, rearranged and organized my clothes. Doing all this gave me space to breathe and think.
I also realized that being mindful and intentional about the people you let into your life matters a lot. Lately, I have surrounded myself with people who have the same goals, values and objectives as me. They might have their different perspectives or views on some other things but we do share a common goal. This year, I made it my intention to laugh more and also bring happiness into people's lives. I believe happiness is a prerequisite for peace. Being mindful means curating my life. I’m intentional about what I let into my space: the people, the content, even the noise. I’ve learned to pause before responding, to breathe before reacting. That pause, that tiny moment of silence, has saved me more than once.
Sometimes, my mindfulness looks like stepping outside for air. Taking a walk and letting the soft breeze caress my skin. Thankfully, I school in an environment that is still very much connected to nature and not yet overshadowed by capitalism and urbanism. So, I revel in the splendor and wonder of nature. Other times, it looks like saying no to one more task. Because I won't take on more than I can shoulder or handle. Mindfulness for me is turning off notifications to protect my focus, responding to messages when I'm ready to. Mindfulness is often quiet, private, and imperfect and it’s real.
I’ve come to see mindfulness not just as meditation or deep breathing, but as a form of self-respect. It is a decision I made to live with clarity, intention, and peace, even in the midst of noise.
Thanks for reading.✨
All images are mine