With the holiday season upon us, it is now more important than ever to begin thinking of mindful ways to enjoy time off, time with family, time with friends, and time alone. For today’s mindfulness blog post, I wanted to talk about the importance of staying mindful even during vacation and holiday periods. Surprisingly enough, this time of year can easily become overwhelming and stressful if you are not careful in your planning and self aware enough to make the best of it.
Whether you are planning a trip back home, an adventure abroad, or - like me - you’ll be visiting family on a Sonora vacation, your level of mindfulness will play a major role in the events that unfold. Many of us feel a large degree of pressure and expectation while traveling or taking time away from work. Often, this self-induced pressure can develop unconsciously as you seek to find some way to make up for your usual workday routine. Regardless of how often you might complain about work and wish for a break, it can be quite difficult to switch gears from work-mode to relax- and play-mode and really unwind.
Here are some quick tips for staying mindful during your vacation:
- Meditate on your vacation/holiday goals early on.
- Create a NOT to do list to ensure that you avoid undesirable tasks & behaviors.
- Set aside YOU time for reading, watching movies, or sleeping in late.
- Get creative with holiday gift-giving instead of getting caught up in the shopping frenzy.
These are just a few ideas for getting more out of the holiday season. Have any others to share? Add to the list by leaving your comments below…
I am a big fan of computers, obviously. But recent events in my life have forced me to start thinking very differently about how to use computers with a mindful approach. Since computing is so central to our lives, we should respect their place in modern culture. Still, just because something works well does not mean it should be more important than everything else.
What is Technology?
We should begin with this question first – what exactly is technology anyway? Remember: technology dates all the way back to primitive times. Spears, bows and arrows, even rocks were a form of technology. Essentially, technology is anything that improves quality of life and makes things easier. Computers definitely do that! So how can computers be potentially harmful?
Any technology can pose problems when we abuse it or use it incorrectly. Weapons, for example, can be used for self defense and necessary protection or even hunting. But weapons can also be used outside the mindful sphere. That is, weapons or any form of tech can be misapplied in a number of ways.
In writing about computers and mindfulness today, I am not referring to malicious uses of the computer – rather I am thinking about how computers can slowly creep in and take over our lives. Compulsive behavior is one of the major areas where computers can become a problem. One of my friends runs a very successful Modesto computer repair business in which he sees examples of this type of thing all the time.
So how can you keep computers from taking over your life? How can you maintain some autonomy from your laptop?
- Limit your computer time every day
- Try not to use computers for socializing
- Ensure that your computer setup is positive
These are just some quick ideas for mindful computing to ponder…