The Mindful Day summary

The first step on your mindfulness journey is to learn some key practices. Together, these practices form a foundation for a calmer, more compassionate mindset. They’ll also help you make better decisions. 

The key message here is: Learning just a few simple practices is all it takes to start being mindful. 

The morning can be a whirlwind of anxiety. Even before you’ve opened your eyes, you’re panicking about your to-do list or that looming presentation at work. By the time your feet hit the floor, you’ve already got your game face on, mentally strategizing for success. If this sounds familiar, there’s a better way.

The key message here is: You can have a mindful morning by practicing gratitude and meditation.

How many times have you listened to one of your coworkers, but found that your attention had drifted elsewhere? You might be saying, “Hmm, right, I hear you,” but half of you is already thinking about your next meeting. Sensing that you’re not that interested, your coworker talks faster, and it becomes harder and harder to follow what she’s saying. 

The key message in this blink is: Mindfulness helps you become a better communicator.

Do you get the most out of your weekends? As a young child, you probably had no problems making the best of your leisure time, but as an adult, it can be a little harder. Instead of spending it with our friends or purposefully having fun, we often waste our time off, sitting on the couch and surfing the internet from our phones. Rather than seizing the day, we’re letting it slip away.

The key message here is: Your leisure time is a precious resource, and you shouldn’t waste it.

When the author’s husband gets home from work, there’s one family member he can always count on to give him a warm welcome – his golden retriever, Beau. Whenever he hears the door, Beau rushes over, barking his excitement and wagging his tail. Dogs like Beau find it easy to express their love, but we humans don’t always find it so easy.

The key message in this blink is: The hugging meditation helps us show our loved ones we care.

Most of us look forward to the end of the working day when we can spend time with loved ones, or simply enjoy a carefree evening. So it seems cruelly ironic that as soon as we get home, often all we can think about is work!

The key message here is: Mindfulness makes you feel like you’ve truly come home.