Tap Into Your Big Zen Energy Like Your Life Depends On It

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Over 20 years ago, the National Library of Medicine shared a report showing that Black Americans under the age of 70 were dying at a rate nearly twice that of white Americans. That was over two decades ago. Surely, things (and by “things” we mean systemic issues within the healthcare system, access to good medical care, access to nutritious foods, affordability of health insurance etc.) would have improved since then, right? No. The Marshall Project reports that Black Americans still die younger at almost every age group at a higher rate compared to white Americans.

Now the CDC reports that total life expectancy in the U.S. just dropped for the second consecutive year – with drug overdoses in large part to blame. We can’t talk about drug use without talking about its causes, including depression, stress, trauma and homelessness. And we cannot talk about those issues without recognizing that Black Americans face each of these at a higher rate than other groups. Prioritizing mental and emotional well-being has never been more important – it’s a matter of life and death. MADAMENOIRE wants to emphasize the importance of practicing more zen in your life. Here are ways to bring out big zen energy in the coming year.

Stop Multitasking

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Do you read work emails while you eat lunch? Or talk to customer service while you go for your walk? Multitasking might make you feel like you’re getting more done in less time. But what you’re actually doing is robbing yourself of the chance to be present. Give yourself the space to do just one thing at a time. This allows you to focus on it and be present.

When eating a meal, doing just that gives you the chance to focus on the flavors of the food and on your gratitude for a full fridge. When going for a walk, leave your phone at home, so you can focus on the beauty of your surroundings and the sensations of moving your body. There are many uplifting and rewarding sensations to be had in everything we do, but you miss out on them if you multitask.

Get Serious About Your Morning Routine

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Pay attention to how you spend your mornings. They set the tone for your entire day. If you have to hit the ground running when you wake up, instantly answering work calls while having your coffee, you’ll feel unsettled all day. Make time for a morning routine that’s just for you, before life’s obligations start calling. Then, no matter what else happens that day, you prioritized giving yourself a little joy. MADAMENOIRE goes over the full benefits of a morning routine and how to build one here.

Ditch Hustle Mentality

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Hustle mentality is the concept that your self-worth and/or self-esteem should rely on how much you accomplish (specifically as quickly as possible). However, it’s a toxic mentality. Studies reported on in the ED Times show that hustle mentality puts the body in a fight or flight state, pumping out the stress hormone cortisol. Focus on detaching your sense of self-worth from how much you get done. That’s the first step to weaning oneself off of hustle culture.

Turn Tasks Into Mindful Moments

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Some mundane and tedious tasks are unavoidable, like washing the dishes or folding laundry. And while you can’t remove these from your life, you can change the way you view them. These simple tasks can actually be meditative if you allow them to be. They can be viewed as a break from more mentally taxing projects (like your day job or complex relationship issues). Plus, they give you a chance to practice mindfulness.

You can challenge yourself to focus on the sensation of the warm water or the nice scent of soap when doing dishes. Focus on the satisfying textures of clothing while folding laundry. If you can shift your feelings about these tasks, you can start to come out of them refreshed rather than tired.

Ditch Urgency Culture For Zen Energy

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Urgency culture is also robbing you of your zen. You do not have to respond to that text or email right away. You don’t even have to answer that phone call right now – even if you aren’t busy. Maybe you need a moment of quiet. We live in a time when people can always access us, if we let them. And that can increase feelings of stress. Normalize taking your time to get back to someone, and even saying, “Let me think about that.”

Remove Yourself From What You Can

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Make a list of the people and circumstances that are causing you stress (aka robbing you of your zen energy) on a regular basis. Now ask yourself which of these don’t have to be in your life. If there is a friendship or an activity that leaves you feeling stressed and tired rather than energized and uplifted, maybe it’s time to remove that person or thing from your life.

Find The Positive In The Negative

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There will be some people and situations you cannot remove from your life. So challenge yourself to find the positive in these. If it’s a bothersome coworker, consider that this coworker is teaching you patience and diplomacy, which well be beneficial in all areas of your life. If it’s a new, earlier wake-up time for a job, focus on the fact that you get to enjoy the house, quiet and peaceful, before others get up.

Meditate Like You Mean It

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The American Psychological Association reports that regular meditation is linked to many benefits including compassion, emotional regulation, less anxiety, improved focus and improved memory. If you’ve been meaning to make meditation part of your life to enjoy more zen energy, there’s no better time to start. MADAMENOIRE covers easy ways to incorporate meditation into your everyday routine here.