How To Find Zen – The Importance Of Self-Care And Finding Peace

Key takeaways:

1. A simple morning routine goes a long way to finding peace and calmness
2. Take time to find joy in hobbies or accomplishments
3. The space around you helps create a peaceful space inside of you
4. I simple song can get you in the right mood and let your mind wander
5. Bullet journaling is a great way to accomplish many things that can help you get into Zen.

Feeling a sense of peace has certainly been a difficult task lately. With everything going on in the world it feels like it’s impossible to get a break and feel some level of peace. With all the chaos that surrounds us, being able to “Get Zen” is something we all need. From breathing exercises to getting out and taking a walk in nature, finding ways to feel peace are numerous but also specific to the person. Here we take a look at some of the most common ways to feel peace and discuss their value.

Starting the day

For most people the way you start your morning sets you up for the rest of the day. So it goes to say that creating a peaceful morning routine is paramount to creating a Zen environment. For myself it’s the little things that help get the ball rolling. Making the bed, having a cup of coffee and giving myself 30 minutes to relax are the perfect things to ensure my day goes smoothly. One of the key things is to not keep hitting the snooze button. Get up and start the process of getting into your Zen. These things allow me to feel control over the upcoming day and to unwind and destress.

These 30 minutes of “me time” can be spent however you want. Watching an episode of your favorite tv show, listening to music, or even taking a long shower are the things I find most helpful when trying to start the day off on the right foot. You can even start a morning skin care routine. Acts of self care are amazing when it comes to creating positivity.

If you end up not having time for a full on morning routine and end up being in a rush, taking a breather. Giving yourself even just a minute to breathe and telling yourself you can handle the upcoming day can sometimes be enough to conquer that panicked feeling that is associated with rushing.

Even if you don’t have the time to have a whole morning routine, the most important thing you can do for yourself is to eat a sound breakfast. A fed mind is a sound mind. I can’t stress this enough. Your brain needs nutrients to function properly and if not it can promote a more anxious state of mind. Utilizing things like meal prepping can ensure that even on your busiest days there is something nutritious for you to eat. The love and care you give to yourself helps you give that love and care to whatever you have to achieve.

Embrace your hobbies

Giving yourself love and care is a multi-tiered process. From taking care of your living space to your body, these are foundational acts that help build a positive environment. But taking a look at the Maslow Hierarchy of needs shows that for true self fulfillment we need more than just the basics (to learn more about it check out this article about Maslow Hierarch and the table below) Beyond having a clean and safe environment, food, and rest, we must also put time and effort into our personal relationships, build up our self esteem, and work on creative pursuits.

Whether your hobby is video games, art, cooking or just taking a walk in nature, dedicating time to yourself can help create a sense of peace and relaxation. FInding the time to do these things can be difficult but it is essential you find time for the things that bring you joy. Taking art classes or cooking classes in your spare time is a great way to do something fun that can also be productive. The feeling of accomplishment when you can look at something you have created with your own hands cannot be understated. This is also a great way to explore new hobbies you have not thought of before. Especially cooking. Since food is such an essential part of creating a healthy and Zen mind, learning to find joy in experimenting with cooking is a great place to start finding a hobby.

If you are unsure of where to start when it comes to finding something new to embrace, check local classes. In this type of pursuit trying something and failing is actually a positive thing. It helps you learn more about yourself, your likes and dislikes, and in many cases can help expand your social circle. Trying new hobbies is a great way to meet new people while also working on self betterment.

Create peaceful surroundings

As we said earlier, acts of self love are the best way to create a peaceful mindset. So ensuring your living space is clean is of the utmost importance. But for many people in a rut, this can seem like an impossible task. So you must take it one step at a time. Don’t even clean an entire room, just pick something small to organize and set straight. Day by day as you check things off your list, you can feel the mental fog lift, and your excitement for life will start to return.

Finding a way to organize your living space is only the beginning when it comes to making your environment peaceful. If you start something like a local art class you can use your final products to help bring life to your space. Being surrounded by things you have created creates a sense of accomplishment which can lead to a sense of peace. Decorating your environment not just with things you made, but things you love will result in a sense of joy. You can do this at work, in your car, or at home.

Having a clean and decorated space is not the only way to create peace. Music is a big part of invoking powerful emotional responses. To that end, finding sounds that create peace can be incredibly helpful and motivating. Spend some time creating musical playlists for different environments and tasks. If you’re looking for a place to start, check out our page HERE that has a mix of nature sounds and lo fi videos that are curated to create a feeling of peace and wellness. It’s truly incredible how one song can inspire so many positive feelings of joy and serenity. If you’re looking for just a small boost to your day playing your favorite song can be game changing.

Journaling

Our final tip for creating peaceful and Zen mindsets is creating a journal. Create something to help you channel your thoughts, fears and anxieties. Once you have something written down on paper it makes it easier to see how achievable your goals are, or how easy it will be to conquer your fears. Writing has also been proven to be something that can help create focus and motivation. Having something like a bullet journal can help you see that the schedule or tasks that have you filled with fear, is something you can tackle with a sense of mindfulness. If you want to explore the idea of bullet journaling in nature, check out our article HERE for some tips to making the whole process much more enjoyable and thought provoking.

Conclusion

When it comes down to it, feeling Zen is all about acts of self love. From the small things like a morning routine, to bigger things like paying attention to your hobbies or loved ones. Even listening to something as small as your favorite song, you will feel as if you can take over the world. Spend some time on yourself in any way you can, and you will be surprised at how quickly you’ll feel at peace. A well loved mind is a peaceful mind.

Next in the series of finding Zen and peace we discuss how some type of physical activity, no matter how small, is very important in ones life. Also some other ways to find Zen and peace after you are able to get your blood flowing a bit. You can find the article HERE.

If you have any questions please comment below and I will get back to them as soon as I can. Also, if you were searching for Zen or peace and feel you found want works for you, please share your journey with the community. We are all hear to help, support, and provide love to and for each other. There are no strangers in this community.

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