by Shamash Alidina, Author of Mindfulness For Dummies

Here are some simple ways of being a tiny bit more mindful in 2011. If you already do them – great! If not, you may like to begin integrating one or more of these tips into your daily routine. Even a small step has an effect, so persevere with them as best you can.

Spend Some Quiet Time Every Day

Having some quiet time every day is the most important tip I can give you. I can’t emphasise enough the importance of connecting with some form of mindfulness practice on a daily basis, preferably for ten minutes or more. By deliberately practising mindfulness every day, you train your mind to be more aware, focused and ultimately more calm, relaxed and efficient. If you want to be more mindful, you need daily training, just as when you want to become fitter you need to exercise your body on a daily basis. If you only exercised once a week, you wouldn’t benefit as much. Your mind goes back to its original state even more quickly than the body.

To practise mindfulness on a daily basis can involve sitting still and feeling the sensation of your breathing, or doing More >