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Do you ever catch yourself going through the motions and realize you hadn’t really been present all day? Me too.
We all know mindfulness is helpful. We’ve read the articles, maybe taken a mindfulness meditation class or two, and we may have felt the benefits before. But somehow, it still slips through the cracks—especially when life is full, fast, and overwhelming.
So today, I am sharing this gentle reminder with you: Come back to mindfulness—not as a task, but as a home.
When everything is too much
Let’s be real. There are those times when the world around us feels like a lot. News cycles, personal responsibilities, collective grief, the pressure to do and be everything at once… it adds up. And in those moments, mindfulness might feel like just another thing on the to-do list.
In fact, sometimes what we truly need is a little “mind-less” time.
Yes, I said it. The kind of time when you put on your favorite comfort show, scroll without any purpose, play a game online, or let yourself zone out a bit. This kind of time isn’t “bad” or even wasteful. It can actually give your nervous system a much-needed break. Mindlessness, in moderation, can serve as a soft pause when things feel too sharp.
The key is in what’s right for you. Mindlessness can soothe us. Mindfulness can reconnect us.
Why come back to mindfulness?
Because mindfulness helps us notice what we’re carrying, before it turns into something heavier.
It reminds us to:
- Feel our feet on the floor.
- Taste the food we just made.
- Hear the way the wind sounds through the trees or the AC hum in our office.
- Stop and breathe, really breathe, when our chest feels tight.
Jon Kabat-Zinn, creator of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), defines mindfulness as “paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally.” That kind of attention doesn’t need to be big or dramatic. It just needs to be yours.
The quiet power of small moments
Mindfulness isn’t about getting it “right.” It’s about showing up for your own life, one breath at a time.
You don’t need to meditate for an hour. You don’t need to download an app or light a candle (unless you want to). You just need to notice.
Because when we pause long enough to witness a feeling, a breath, or a moment—we remember that we’re not machines. We’re humans. With needs. With nervous systems. With hearts that need quiet just as much as they need movement.
Gentle ways to practice (when you’re ready)
- Pause before checking your phone. Just three breaths.
- Put your hand on your chest and name how you feel—one word is enough.
- Sit outside for five minutes. Don’t do anything. Just be.
- Eat without scrolling. Walk without earbuds. Shower without planning anything.
If that feels like too much today, that’s okay. Let yourself zone out a bit, then come back when you’re ready. Mindfulness isn’t a test, it’s a resource. A soft, gentle return.
A soft, gentle reminder
If you’ve wandered away from mindfulness lately, please resist going toward feelings of shame. Remember that you’re not behind. You’re human.
Sometimes we need to disconnect to come back home to ourselves.
So whenever it feels right, just start with one breath.
Be mindful… of being mindful.