MONK MODE.

Welcome to the first edition of my Wellbeing series! In this article, I will give you my hacks that helped me begin my wellbeing journey, change my mindset and live my life to the fullest. Out of my 3 pillars of self-improvement (fitness, nutrition and wellbeing), I believe this is the hardest pillar to introduce into your life and practice consistently. Why? Because it is harder to conquer the mind than it is to conquer the body.

So Trent, you’re telling me that it’s harder to be present, sit still, calm your mind and concentrate on your breathing, then it is to hit the gym or eat healthy!? Yes, I believe it is! Personally, I can get through a workout and eat all the right foods with no problems. However, I still struggle finding 10 minutes or so during my day to simply sit on the ground in silence and do nothing, or take a moment to practice my daily gratitude. Our lives ‘feel’ so busy that it’s hard to comprehend carving out some time for ourselves each day, when in fact, we have all the time in the world…

Life isn’t a rush

Life seems so busy. Today, we are in such a rush to get things done, whether they are important tasks or not (and trust me, most tasks aren’t!). But I get it, I feel exactly the same way. That’s why you have to make the time to do the important things in life, even if it means scheduling it in your calendar.

Make the time Trent? I can’t just make more hours in a day! Sure you can…

Don’t have time to workout? Hitting the gym three days a week for an hour is only 1.79% of your week (24 hours x 7 days = 168 hours, 3 hours / 168 hours x 100 = 1.79%). Yeah, but I also have to sleep and go to work. Ok fair enough, even if we assume 8 hours of sleep per day and 35 hours of work per week, it’s still only 3.9% of your week (3 hours / 77 hours x 100 = 3.9%)…there is no excuse! Wake up earlier and workout first thing in the morning or before you go to bed at night if you have to. Pain in the body often quiets in the pain in the mind.

Don’t have time to pause and meditate? Do it first thing in the morning. As soon as you get out of bed and your feet hit the ground, give yourself 5 minutes of silence, intentional breathing and gratitude reflection…it will go a long way in starting off your day with purpose!

Yes, life can be busy…but make the time to pause and enjoy a moment for yourself every now and then.

When you die, your ‘in-tray’ won’t be empty

Many of us live our lives with the notion that we will someday get everything done. We work long hours, spend time away from family, avoid events, don’t take timeout for ourselves, pretty much postpone life for another day. We often think that once our to do list is complete, then I can relax, have fun and enjoy life! My workmate told me a story the other day about a guy he used to work with who worked his entire life whilst not touching his long service leave. His intention was to save all his leave for retirement so he’d have more money to live off and travel later in life. He retired in his 60’s, but unfortunately got diagnosed with cancer and sadly passed away within 12 months.

We often wait, put off fun for another day, when another day isn’t always guaranteed.

There will always be things to do, projects to complete. Remember, your in-tray is supposed to have things in it! Life would be boring if it were empty. However, in reality, most of the important things in our in-tray can wait. In the vast scheme of life, very little of your tasks are an ‘emergency’. So leave your in-tray alone every once and a while and go live your life. Your children will never remember that you worked late…

“Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans”.

– John Lennon

Live in the now

Someone once told me that if you’re experiencing depression, you’re living in the past. If you’re experiencing anxiousness, you’re living in the future. If you’re at peace, you’re living in the present. When your mind is present, you’re in the now.

I often catch myself at a function or an event thinking about the past or the future. Whenever I do, I try and bring myself into the present moment, because ‘right now’ won’t ever happen again! I try not to let my past problems or future concerns dominate my present mind. When our minds are in the past or the future, our kids are growing up, our friends and family are moving on…life is happening.

This really hammers home for me when I’m with my children. Whenever I’m playing with my kids, I try my best to be present and in the moment, as I know these times won’t last forever. There will be a time in the not too distant future where I will wish to go back in time and spend just one more day playing with my younger kids.

So put your phone away, learn to let things go, engage with your loved ones and fully enjoy the moment. Today is a gift…that’s why it’s called the present.

“We have two lives, and the second begins when we realise we only have one”.

– Confucius

Me enjoying some brief time to myself. It doesn’t have to be perfect, sometimes simply sitting and enjoying the moment is enough…

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