Hi lovelies,

The idea of living a more “Zen” life naturally conjures up all kinds of mental images of going with the flow, being calmer, and savouring the present moment.

All of these things are likely to sound appealing to many people, to various degrees — particularly with many people reporting being under chronic stress, and with some needing to seek out American Addiction Centers reviews and skilful counselling to help them move past particular issues.

Fundamentally, living a more Zen life doesn’t need to mean withdrawing from the world and joining a monastery at the top of some mountain.

Here are a handful of practical tips for living a more Zen everyday life today.

View basic acts like household chores and beautifying your space as acts of self-care
In the book “Zen: The Art of Simple Living” by the Japanese Zen Buddhist monk “Shunmyo Masuno,” the author points out several times that for Zen monks, cleaning is a kind of a sacrament — a thing that all of the monks have to do each day, and that contributes to spiritual and mental harmony and wellbeing.

In addition to household chores, he also suggests that simple ways of beautifying the home or workplace, such as by lining up pens on the desk at the beginning and end of each day, can have the same sort of powerful effect.

A big part of a more Zen approach to everyday life is finding ways to live that encompass and promote a deep sense and appreciation of harmony, day by day. Small shifts in how you relate to and interact with your daily environment can be very impactful in this regard.

Be present to experience and savour things in the here and now
A core part of a more Zen approach to daily life is to avoid being excessively caught up in anxieties about the future and rumination about the past, and instead maintaining a perspective that keeps your awareness primarily focused on the present moment.

To be more present-focused, regularly “check in” with yourself during the day and notice what’s happening around. Take the time to savour your meals and experience every bite. And when you step out of your front door and feel the crisp morning air, breathe it in mindfully and enjoy the sensation.

Take up a meditation practice
No matter how little you may know about the lifestyles of Zen Buddhist monks, it more or less goes without saying that you’re aware of one thing: they meditate a lot.

A meditation practice can have a powerful impact when it comes to helping you to be more present. It can reduce the degree to which you stress about things. And it can help you to greet each day in a more optimistic and positive frame of mind.

The traditional Zen method of meditation — Zazen — involves sitting on the floor with a straight back and meditating with the eyes open. But you could just as easily take up the kind of meditation practice promoted by popular platforms such as Headspace and Calm.