Looking for new ways to refresh your spiritual life? For me, this is the most challenging aspect of my health. I tend to not prioritize spirituality and mindfulness the same way as nutrition and exercise. In 2024, I am trying a few new things to help build new habits in this area.
Spirituality and mindfulness are important for stress management, especially if you suffer from anxiety the way I do. Making time to be quiet, reflective, and prayerful will help your mind and body rest, increasing your ability to face your busy life. If you are looking for ways to help encourage more spirit into your life, consider my goals below.
- Eliminating phone/electronics for 90 minutes on waking and before bed. This habit is going to help me break the addiction I have to scrolling. I don’t need to do this. I don’t know why I do. It’s not helpful or additive to my life at all. In the morning, I’m replacing that time with being all in on my workout instead of using rest time to scroll. In the evening, I plan to read and complete my daily gratitude journal, which brings me to my next goal.
- Expressing gratitude daily. I plan to take inventory of my day each night before bed, taking the time to be grateful for what I have, and consider what I can or should do differently in the future. This also will help prepare my mind and heart for confession, something I plan to do more of in 2024. I purchased the Legend gratitude journal to help guide me through this process, since I’m new at this!
- Practice box breathing. Anytime I feel like I need it, I will perform box breathing. Definitely before bed or when I feel my anxiety creeping in. Here’s how you do it. Think about a four-sided box. Breathe in for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds, breathe out for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds. Repeat as many times as you need to in order to calm your central nervous system and mind. I usually end up needing 3 rounds.
These new habits will complement my current routines, which include daily stretching and prayer. All told these habits do not take a ton of time. The gratitude journal took me 3 minutes before bed last night. The box breathing takes one minute! You can fit spiritual practice and mindfulness into your life, I promise you. Happy relaxed and happy mind and spirit!