The Art of Mindful Living

Today, what was supposed to be a sunny Saturday in July is quite the opposite. Instead, the clouds are looking gloomy and raindrops are falling. However, it's got me reflecting. So why not grab a drink of your choice and enjoy today's entry, or save this article for your next quiet moment?

Moving to the beat of your drum

Being in my late twenties is a funny time. My close circle of friends are all settling down with their partners, getting married, or having babies. Everywhere I go, it seems to be the common topic of discussion. If you're in a similar situation and not at that point in your life, it's easy to feel alone and disconnected from everyone.

I think that at times, we all feel pressure from society to believe that achieving certain milestones will bring more happiness into our lives. There have been times in my life when I felt upset for not reaching the milestones that everyone else seems to be. However, this year, I made a decision to stop feeling that way. Instead, I want to go through life at my own pace by slowing down and putting energy into the things I love. I want to live authentically, enjoy every moment in life, and appreciate the simple pleasures that are in front of me every day.

So, I wanted to share a few things with you today that have helped me live more mindfully this year.

1. Romanticising the everyday mundane. Life isn't always exciting. Instagram only shows the highlights. I've spent 80% of this year living a pretty ordinary life while I save for my next chapter. But by simplifying things, I've discovered the beauty in everyday moments. I've been focusing on finding happiness in simple daily tasks. If you're interested, you can read more about it in ‘The Beauty of an Ordinary Life: Romanticising The Mundane Changed My Daily Life’.
2. Writing and reading Whether it’s journaling or working on my new newsletter I've created this year. Writing has become a lovely hobby of mine. It’s a creative activity that brings me a sense of clarity and serves as my little escape from the world around me. Another simple pleasure of mine this year has been reading Substack articles. I'm starting to find the online world pretty noisy, but this corner of the internet fills me with calmness and inspiration.
3. Being in nature or exercising One thing I love about the UK is its beautiful English countryside. Currently, I'm enjoying quieter weekends that are spent in nature or being active. Instead of setting specific fitness goals for this year, I've been listening to my body and moving based on how I feel. I've been mixing things up with swimming, yoga, weight training, walking, and running.
4. Living a simpler lifestyle After leaving the world of recruitment and its lucrative commission packages, I've had to embrace a new lifestyle. This shift has led me to live a simpler life at a slower pace, which has made me feel calmer and has given me space to explore my creativity.

I guess what I’m trying to convey in this article is that life is not a race, and happiness truly comes from within. Enjoy the transitions in your life and cherish the quieter moments while they last.

Love always.

Grace x