Everyday Calm: Relaxing Rituals for Busy People

on this mini-retreat.
2. Before going inside, center yourself with a few calm breaths.
3. Enter the building and quietly find a seat.
4. Close your eyes and let your body relax.
5. Allow the sacred space to envelop you in calm.
6. Focus on what’s important in your life.
7. Ask, how can you put your heart’s desire into action?
Notice how thoughts of gratitude will suddenly arise!

effortless afternoon
Keep your cool the whole day through.
Karaoke on the Go
Here is a great way to perk up from the afternoon blahs. Whistle while you walk or drive, or anywhere where you know it won’t bother those around you. Let spontaneity reach its greatest heights. Sing your theme song or your favorite commercial. When you sing a tune, all your troubles melt away. Sing from your belly, and don’t hold anything back. Your tension will instantly change into a smile.
There is no great genius without some touch of madness.
—Lucius Annaeus Seneca
Urban Obstacle Course
Daydreamers beware! Multitasking is a tempting time- saver that can be hazardous to your health. Sidewalks can be cluttered with obstacles, and you’ve got to be careful near busy streets. The challenge is to arrive at your destination safely. As you go about your business, walking, talking, and contemplating, keep a keen eye on what’s ahead of you. Anticipate possible roadblocks. Beware especially when talking on your cell phone or immersed in conversation. Staying sharp and alert will help guide you safely around town.
Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes.
—Oscar Wilde
Call-Drop Desperation
Cell-phone reception can disappear at the most inopportune moments. As with any frustrating technological malfunction, it’s important to get a grip on the emotional downturn that follows. Take a breath, have a laugh, and then redial. Sometimes a break in a call is just what you need to refocus and adjust your position.
Here is a quick stretch fix for when calls get dropped:
1. Inhale deeply through your nose.
2. Shrug your shoulders to your ears and hold for a moment.
3. Exhale thoroughly and let your shoulders drop.
The Great Escape
Make your car a sanctuary, a place to find solitude away from home. Keep the car stocked with snacks, bottled water, and a selection of relaxing music to help you wind down. Parked on the side of a street or in a parking lot, let the music play, recline your seat, close your eyes, and take five. Steal moments for yourself in the midst of the everyday chaos. Notice how calm and efficient you become with each rest stop. This is your own private hideaway.
After a storm comes a calm.
—Matthew Henry
After-Work Window Gazing
Take window-shopping to another level. After work, go for a stroll down your town’s main street. Let your mind unwind and soak up the sights and sounds of the neighborhood. Step by step, relax and breathe. To disengage your mind from work, notice the latest styles and colors in each shop window. Let the sights and sounds soothe your tension. Accomplish nothing but walking and window gazing. By the time you return home, you will be feeling renewed and ready for friends and family.
Drawer Dharma
The teachings of Buddha are often referred to as the dharma, a term that can be translated as “truth.” The state of your desk or drawers reveals certain truths about your life. You can’t be calm if your surroundings reflect chaos. Inner order relies on every item being in its perfect place.
1. Open a drawer and see what’s inside.
2. Take out any items you don’t need and give them away.
3. Place each item for ease of use.
4. Use containers to organize the small stuff.
5. Notice how your drawer and your mind fall into order simultaneously.
Your goal is to keep all areas of your life in order, so one at a time, tackle all the drawers in your home.
By the work one knows the workman.
—Jean de La Fontaine
Tumble-Dry Meditation
When you’re in a hurry and your clothes just won’t dry, it’s easy to let impatience get the best of you. Instead, make the most of the time you have.
1. Pull up a chair in front of the dryer and get comfortable.
2. Close your eyes and focus on the tumbling of your clothes.
3. Let the rhythmic sound calm your mind.
4. Breathe in unison to each circling motion.
5. Imagine that you are at the beach, with the waves crashing ashore.
6. When buzzer sounds, end your meditation session.
7. Pull on your toasty warm clothes in comfort and serenity.
Saturday Saints
The week is short, and you have so much to do. For a new perspective, take the time to volunteer on a Saturday afternoon. Pick a Saturday to give half a day to others and you’ll feel fulfilled all week long. Make a date of it by bringing along friends and family. Search the Internet or the phone book to find the organization of your choice. And if you can’t spare time, share your money and expertise. All of us have so much to offer.
I cried because I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet.
—Persian saying
Reincarnation
Caught in a parking-lot maze? Wondering where you parked your car? At first, the rows of seemingly identical vehicles can be overwhelming. Turn this moment into a walking meditation. Forget your hurry and bring your thoughts into focus. Take a deep breath and discover your car. Your car is waiting patiently for your return. Take time and enjoy the search!
Self-trust is the first secret of success.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson
Dog Training
When tension takes over, time spent with your faithful furry companion is a lesson in the good things in life. Let your animal instinct take over and unleash some fun. Your pets will teach you a few new tricks: