Living a Zen lifestyle might seem tough in this digitally-driven world, but it doesn’t have to be.
To live the Zen way, you don’t need to practice anything radical like sitting in a particular yoga pose for hours.
Make a few simple lifestyle changes and you’re good to go.
The essence of Zen is living and experiencing life directly. In the west, the concept of Zen is synonymous with calm, mindfulness and simplicity.
Want to experience all that?
In this article we talk about 7 ways to live a Zen lifestyle.
Let’s get started.
What is Zen
"Zen" is derived from the Sanskrit word "dhyana". Its literal meaning is “meditation”.
Zen is a type of meditation that is practiced in Buddhism. Zen practitioners believe that the goal of Zen meditation is to achieve enlightenment or an understanding of one's true nature.
What is Zen Lifestyle
Zen lifestyle has been around for centuries in the East but it has only recently been introduced to the West.
Zen lifestyle is characterized by simplicity and awareness. It is about being mindful of what you are doing and why you are doing it.
The nice thing is you can experience all the benefits associated with “Zen” by making a few small yet powerful changes in your daily routine.
Let’s dive a little deeper.
7 Ways to Live a Zen Lifestyle
1. Focus
Here is a short Zen proverb to help you understand focus: “When eating, eat. When walking, walk.”
This simply means that you should focus on a single task at a time. Avoid multi-tasking no matter how much you feel tempted.
For instance, don’t check your phone while having a meal with your family. Two things happen when you focus your attention on a single task:
- You become more productive
- You enjoy it more
2. Rise early
If you are a night person, getting up early may seem a little tough in the beginning.
But it’s worth the effort.
You’ll be amazed how much more productive you can become just by rising with the sun.
Here are a few tips to help you get in the habit:
- Put the alarm out of reach so that you have to get up to turn it off
- Jump out of bed and start brushing your teeth
- Jump in the shower right after waking up
- Drink a glass of water
- Plan your day
- Get dressed
- Go for a walk/jog
3. Eat healthy food
The first step to eating healthy is to know what foods are healthy for you.
Your diet should include everything your body needs to function effectively.
Healthy foods include:
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Low-fat dairy products
- Lean protein
- Whole grains
- And more
We bet you already know all that, right? The next step is to make sure you consume a balanced diet.
4. Exercise
We all realize how beneficial exercise can be. But, somehow, most of us don’t put it at the top of our priorities list.
Motivating yourself to move, especially in this digital age, can be a tough ask.
The good thing is: You don’t have to run a marathon or lift huge blocks of iron to live the Zen lifestyle.
Any type of exercise that gets your blood moving is good for your health. It could be a 20-minute walk in the neighborhood, a light yoga session or a morning jog in the park.
Research tells us that exercise helps improve our cognitive function and memory. Plus regular exercise is a great way to release stress and tension.
5. Meditate
The best thing about meditation is anyone can do it!
And while many of us might associate meditation with a particular setting, you can practice it anywhere you like.
All you need is quiet and comfort!
Being outside is ideal, but it’s not the only option; a room can be just as effective.
Moreover, effective meditation is more than sitting in a particular position.
Just sit in a comfortable position, focus on your breathing, and observe your own thoughts and sensations.
You can use a guided meditation mobile app if you are new to the Zen lifestyle. Headspace is one of the most popular and effective ones.
6. Simplify your daily activities down to the essentials
In order to focus on what’s important, you need to filter out what’s not. But how do you do that?
By simplifying your daily activities down to the essentials!
So naturally your first step should be to identify what’s important to you. Eliminate everything from your daily routine that takes up your time and doesn’t add much value to your life.
Moreover, you can also find ways to automate repetitive tasks so that you can focus on the important stuff.
7. Tidy environment
Your environment impacts your mental well-being more than you might think.
According to studies, a cluttered environment can be one of the causes of depression and stress.
On the flip side, people who spend their time in tidy and orderly environments tend to be happier.
A tidy environment doesn’t only mean a clean environment. It also means that you don’t have any unnecessary material things around you.
A tidy environment is one more step towards living a Zen lifestyle.
Summary
Living the Zen lifestyle doesn’t have to be difficult or boring. Even small, seemingly insignificant changes to your daily routine can work wonders.
The best thing is you can do is use this guide to start experiencing the amazing benefits of the Zen lifestyle right now.
Here is a quick recap:
- Develop your focus
- Rise early
- Eat healthy food
- Make exercise a routine
- Meditate
- Simplify your daily activities down to the essentials
- Keep your environment tidy and clutter-free
Finally, remember that you don’t need anything other than the right mindset and consistency to live the Zen way.
