Asana/Movement: Hip Mobility
Breath: Cleansing Pranayama
Meditation: Choose Presence
Journal Prompt: Choose Presence
Reflect on a time today when your mind was preoccupied with the past or the future, distracting you from the present moment. What were you missing out on by not being fully present?
How can you remind yourself to stay more engaged in the here and now?
Write about specific strategies you can use to cultivate presence in your daily activities, especially during moments that typically lead to distraction.
Creating Habits: Adjust Your Environment
Making adjustments to your environment can really improve your ability to develop new habits. By arranging your surroundings to support your goals, you reduce the friction associated with starting a new habit and increase the likelihood of success. This might involve removing temptations that lead to “bad habits” (i.e. habits you want to stop) or setting up physical cues that remind and encourage you to engage in your new desired behaviors.
Example
If you want to establish a daily yoga routine, start by creating a dedicated yoga space in your home. This doesn't need to be a large area; just a quiet corner where you can place your yoga mat and essential accessories like blocks, straps, and a blanket. Keep this area uncluttered and inviting. You can even add a small plant, artwork, or a diffuser with essential oils to really create a space that you want to spend time in.
Make it a point to leave your yoga mat rolled out and visible. By having your yoga space set up and ready to go, you’ll be more likely to step onto the mat each day. This visibility acts as a constant reminder and reduces barriers to starting your practice, making it easier to maintain your daily yoga habit.
Adjusting your environment in this way simplifies the process of engaging in your practice regularly, and it gets easier to stick to your routine.