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How How to to Have Have a a Zen Zen Like Like Day Day by by Marelisa Marelisa make make your your day day more more zen zen A A zen zen like like day day is is intentional intentional full full of of tranquility tranquility and and joyful joyful When When you you re re feeling feeling harried harried and and overwhelmed overwhelmed because because you you have have a a million million things things to to do do and and it it seems seems like like there there just just aren aren t t enough enough hours hours in in the the day day to to get get it it all all done done it it s s likely likely that that you you ll ll conclude conclude that that the the solution solution is is to to go go faster faster In In addition addition you you ll ll probably probably start start looking looking for for strategies strategies and and hacks hacks you you can can apply apply that that will will allow allow you you to to get get more more done done However However the the solution solution to to overwhelm overwhelm is is just just the the opposite opposite you you should should go go slower slower and and do do less less In In other other words words what what you you need need to to do do is is look look for for ways ways to to make make your your day day more more zen zen Zen Zen is is a a form form of of Buddhism Buddhism and and its its essence essence is is experiencing experiencing life life directly directly In In the the West West Zen Zen is is often often synonymous synonymous with with simplicity simplicity mindfulness mindfulness and and calm calm I I think think these these are are things things we we can can could could all all use use more more of of don don t t you you If If so so below below you you ll ll find find ways ways to to make make your your day day more more zen zen Take Take a a deep deep breath breath and and read read on on Prepare Prepare the the Night Night Before Before You You should should prepare prepare for for your your zen zen like like day day the the night night before before Although Although sometimes sometimes it it s s difficult difficult to to identify identify what what is is zen zen it it s s easy easy to to notice notice what what is is not not zen zen Here Here are are some some things things that that are are definitely definitely not not zen zen The The One One Hour Hour Goal Goal Strategy Strategy Waking Waking up up late late and and then then rushing rushing to to get get ready ready so so you you can can run run out out the the door door holding holding a a bagel bagel and and coffee coffee in in one one hand hand and and a a crumpled crumpled jacket jacket and and your your briefcase briefcase in in the the other other A A schedule schedule that that is is filled filled to to the the brim brim with with tasks tasks and and commitments commitments A A disorganized disorganized and and cluttered cluttered desk desk If If you you get get things things ready ready the the night night before before you you can can do do the the following following Get Get up up early early enough enough to to get get ready ready for for your your zen zen day day in in a a calm calm and and leisurely leisurely way way Go Go through through the the items items on on your your schedule schedule and and make make sure sure that that you you re re not not crowding crowding your your day day there there s s more more on on this this below below Take Take some some time time to to declutter declutter and and organize organize your your desk desk so so that that it it s s clean clean and and tidy tidy when when you you sit sit down down to to work work the the next next day day In In addition addition before before going going to to sleep sleep set set the the intent intent that that the the next next day day will will be be peaceful peaceful and and calm calm You You can can make make your your day day more more zen zen by by setting setting things things up up the the night night before before Don Don t t Crowd Crowd Your Your Day Day As As I I stated stated in in the the previous previous point point a a crowded crowded day day is is not not zen zen In In order order to to make make your your day day zen zen take take out out your your schedule schedule for for the the day day grab grab a a pen pen and and do do the the following following Identify Identify the the most most important important thing thing that that needs needs to to get get done done that that day day Decide Decide what what other other two two or or three three important important items items you you ll ll work work on on once once you you re re done done with with the the most most important important one one Set Set aside aside some some time time in in the the afternoon afternoon to to get get smaller smaller stuff stuff done done Cancel Cancel any any meetings meetings appointments appointments and and commitments commitments that that are are nonessential nonessential Delegate Delegate all all tasks tasks that that someone someone else else should should be be doing doing After After doing doing this this you you ll ll find find that that you you have have more more time time to to do do the the things things that that are are really really important important to to you you including including spending spending more more time time with with those those you you love love In In addition addition you you ll ll have have time time to to do do things things for for yourself yourself such such as as exercising exercising and and finding finding time time each each day day to to spend spend in in quiet quiet contemplation contemplation Keep Keep sight sight of of the the most most important important things things each each day day Make Make your your day day more more zen zen by by getting getting the the important important things things done done and and discarding discarding the the rest rest Practice Practice Zazen Zazen Zazen Zazen is is the the form form of of meditation meditation practice practice at at the the heart heart of of Zen Zen I I ve ve already already written written previously previously about about the the many many benefits benefits of of meditation meditation as as well well as as how how to to do do it it Now Now there there s s an an additional additional reason reason to to meditate meditate to to add add zen zen to to your your life life In In their their book book Instructions Instructions to to the the Cook Cook A A Zen Zen Master Master s s Lessons Lessons in in Living Living a a Life Life That That Matters Matters the the authors authors Bernie Bernie Glassman Glassman and and Rick Rick Fields Fields write write the the following following When When talking talking about about zazen zazen I I like like to to use use the the metaphor metaphor of of the the moon moon on on the the lake lake Our Our thoughts thoughts and and emotions emotions are are like like the the ripples ripples and and waves waves that that disturb disturb the the reflective reflective surface surface of of the the lake lake so so that that we we can can t t see see the the moon moon Of Of course course the the moon moon is is always always there there even even if if we we can can t t see see it it and and it it s s also also important important to to see see the the ripples ripples But But we we also also need need to to see see the the moon moon clearly clearly to to know know it it s s there there So So in in meditation meditation when when we we let let the the ripples ripples of of our our thoughts thoughts and and the the waves waves of of our our emotions emotions settle settle it it s s as as if if we we have have cleared cleared the the lake lake so so that that the the moon moon can can appear appear Starting Starting your your day day with with even even a a few few minutes minutes of of meditation meditation will will go go a a long long way way toward toward making making your your day day run run more more smoothly smoothly Slow Slow Down Down Your Your Mind Mind Eknath Eknath Easwaran Easwaran was was one one of of the the th th century century s s great great spiritual spiritual teachers teachers His His translations translations of of the the Indian Indian spiritual spiritual classics classics The The Bhagavad Bhagavad Gita Gita The The Upanishads Upanishads and and The The Dhammapada Dhammapada are are the the best best selling selling editions editions in in the the United United States States In In his his book book Take Take Your Your Time Time Finding Finding Balance Balance in in a a Hurried Hurried World World Easwaran Easwaran uses uses the the analogy analogy of of driving driving a a car car to to explain explain what what happens happens when when your your mind mind speeds speeds up up He He explains explains that that when when you you re re driving driving and and you you re re going going too too fast fast you you can can t t control control the the car car In In the the same same way way when when your your mind mind is is racing racing you you can can t t pay pay proper proper attention attention to to what what is is going going on on around around you you heed heed warning warning signs signs and and make make the the right right judgment judgment calls calls Easwaran Easwaran adds adds that that there there is is nothing nothing more more disobedient disobedient than than an an untrained untrained mind mind and and there there is is nothing nothing more more obedient obedient than than a a trained trained mind mind We We can can train train our our minds minds to to slow slow down down by by doing doing all all of of the the following following Listening Listening to to our our thoughts thoughts Slowing Slowing down down our our pace pace of of life life Doing Doing one one thing thing at at a a time time Adopting Adopting reflective reflective practices practices such such as as yoga yoga tai tai chi chi and and qigong qigong As As Zen Zen Master Master Thich Thich Nhat Nhat Hanh Hanh once once put put it it Smile Smile breathe breathe and and go go slowly slowly Make Make your your day day more more zen zen by by stepping stepping on on the the brakes brakes instead instead of of the the accelerator accelerator Master Master the the Art Art of of Concentration Concentration Easwaran Easwaran who who was was mentioned mentioned in in the the point point above above advises advises that that we we give give our our attention attention to to one one thing thing at at a a time time He He indicates indicates that that complete complete concentration concentration is is genius genius Again Again Easwaran Easwaran uses uses the the analogy analogy of of a a car car Imagine Imagine that that you you get get into into your your car car and and you you start start driving driving north north toward toward your your house house Then Then all all of of a a sudden sudden you you do do the the following following You You turn turn left left and and start start heading heading toward toward the the supermarket supermarket Then Then you you make make another another sudden sudden turn turn and and start start heading heading toward toward your your sister sister s s house house Mid Mid way way to to your your sister sister s s house house you you remember remember that that you you need need to to pick pick up up the the dry dry cleaning cleaning You You take take a a sharp sharp right right and and start start driving driving toward toward the the dry dry cleaners cleaners Then Then you you get get the the picture picture When When it it comes comes to to our our attention attention we we often often behave behave as as if if we we were were driving driving the the car car above above Take Take control control of of the the car car that that is is of of your your mind mind by by mastering mastering the the art art of of concentration concentration You You do do this this by by doing doing one one thing thing at at a a time time and and by by becoming becoming more more mindful mindful There There s s more more on on mindfulness mindfulness below below Practice Practice Mindfulness Mindfulness One One of of the the main main principles principles of of Zen Zen is is mindfulness mindfulness Look Look at at the the following following quote quote from from the the book book Zen Zen Keys Keys A A Guide Guide to to Zen Zen Practice Practice by by Thich Thich Nhat Nhat Hanh Hanh I I remember remember a a short short conversation conversation between between the the Buddha Buddha and and a a philosopher philosopher of of his his time time I I have have heard heard that that Buddhism Buddhism is is a a doctrine doctrine of of enlightenment enlightenment What What is is your your method method What What do do you you practice practice every every day day We We walk walk we we eat eat we we wash wash ourselves ourselves we we sit sit down down What What is is so so special special about about that that Everyone Everyone walks walks eats eats washes washes sits sits down down Sir Sir when when we we walk walk we we are are aware aware that that we we are are walking walking when when we we eat eat we we are are aware aware that that we we are are eating eating When When others others walk walk eat eat wash wash or or sit sit down down they they are are generally generally not not aware aware of of what what they they are are doing doing In In Buddhism Buddhism mindfulness mindfulness is is the the key key Mindfulness Mindfulness is is the the energy energy that that sheds sheds light light on on all all things things and and all all activities activities producing producing the the power power of of concentration concentration bringing bringing forth forth deep deep insight insight and and awakening awakening Mindfulness Mindfulness is is at at the the base base of of all all Buddhist Buddhist practice practice Make Make your your day day more more zen zen by by being being mindful mindful You You can can get get started started with with these these mindfulness mindfulness exercises exercises Transmit Transmit Serenity Serenity to to Others Others Social Social contagion contagion refers refers to to the the propensity propensity for for behaviors behaviors exhibited exhibited by by one one person person to to be be copied copied by by others others who who are are in in the the vicinity vicinity of of the the original original actor actor If If a a person person walks walks into into a a room room full full of of people people and and starts starts acting acting in in a a way way that that shows shows that that they they re re angry angry and and stressed stressed it it s s highly highly likely likely that that others others in in the the room room will will soon soon start start exhibiting exhibiting similar similar behavior behavior But But the the opposite opposite is is also also true true One One person person slowing slowing down down showing showing goodwill goodwill and and demonstrating demonstrating tranquility tranquility helps helps everyone everyone around around them them to to relax relax On On your your zen zen like like day day choose choose to to be be the the person person who who remains remains calm calm when when everyone everyone else else is is rushing rushing about about and and set set an an example example for for others others to to relax relax as as well well Repeat Repeat a a Mantra Mantra It It s s already already been been stated stated that that in in order order to to make make your your day day more more zen zen you you need need to to slow slow down down your your mind mind A A great great way way to to do do this this is is by by repeating repeating a a mantra mantra Your Your mantra mantra can can be be Ram Ram Nam Nam Mahatma Mahatma Ghandi Ghandi s s mantra mantra Peace Peace All All is is well well or or anything anything else else that that works works for for you you When When your your mind mind begins begins to to race race off off with with thoughts thoughts of of worry worry frustration frustration fear fear or or anger anger slow slow it it down down by by repeating repeating your your mantra mantra In In addition addition your your mantra mantra can can be be the the activity activity you you re re currently currently engaged engaged in in So So if if you you re re walking walking your your mantra mantra would would be be walking walking walking walking walking walking if if you you re re cleaning cleaning up up around around the the house house your your mantra mantra would would be be cleaning cleaning cleaning cleaning cleaning cleaning and and so so on on Create Create Space Space Between Between When When you you re re planning planning out out your your schedule schedule for for the the day day make make your your day day more more zen zen by by leaving leaving some some space space between between tasks tasks and and appointments appointments Use Use those those spaces spaces to to do do things things like like the the following following Close Close your your eyes eyes and and take take a a few few deep deep breaths breaths Smile Smile and and think think of of one one thing thing you you re re grateful grateful for for Stretch Stretch Walk Walk around around Sit Sit out out in in the the sun sun for for a a little little while while Scatter Scatter spaces spaces throughout throughout your your day day and and use use those those spaces spaces to to simply simply be be Keep Keep A A Zen Zen Attitude Attitude A A zen zen attitude attitude is is knowing knowing that that there there s s no no need need to to rush rush For For this this point point we we re re going going to to refer refer to to Easwaran Easwaran s s wisdom wisdom one one last last time time Easwaran Easwaran uses uses the the example example of of Ghandi Ghandi to to make make the the point point that that it it s s not not necessary necessary to to lead lead a a frantic frantic life life in in order order to to accomplish accomplish great great things things He He points points out out that that Ghandi Ghandi accomplished accomplished more more than than most most people people in in history history and and yet yet he he always always looked looked relaxed relaxed What What could could be be more more ambitious ambitious than than filling filling your your schedule schedule with with the the things things that that are are most most important important to to you you spending spending more more time time with with those those you you love love and and living living life life at at your your own own pace pace instead instead of of trying trying to to keep keep up up with with others others Look Look at at the the following following A A slower slower life life is is more more effective effective more more artistic artistic much much richer richer than than a a life life lived lived as as a a race race against against the the clock clock It It gives gives you you time time to to pause pause to to think think to to reflect reflect to to decide decide to to weigh weigh pros pros and and cons cons It It gives gives you you time time for for relationships relationships Eknath Eknath Easwaran Easwaran Throughout Throughout your your day day of of zen zen remember remember to to keep keep a a zen zen attitude attitude Conclusion Conclusion Make Make your your life life more more zen zen by by prioritizing prioritizing concentrating concentrating being being more more mindful mindful and and following following the the other other tips tips and and strategies strategies explained explained above above Live Live your your best best life life by by adding adding zen zen to to your your day day system system banner banner op op jpg jpg banner banner make make it it happen happen one one hour hour a a day day header header guidebook guidebook of of dreams dreams banner banner how how to to be be creative creative banner banner Related Related Posts Posts Ways Ways to to Tame Tame Your Your Monkey Monkey Mind Mind and and Stop Stop Mental Mental Chatter Chatter The The Art Art of of Mindful Mindful Living Living Srikumar Srikumar Rao Rao On On Happiness Happiness Four Four Exercises Exercises That That Will Will Make Make You You Happier Happier Zen Zen Capitalism Capitalism Creating Creating A A Life Life While While Making Making A A Living Living Tweet Tweet Pin Pin Share Share Shares Shares Next Next post post How How to to Create Create a a Life Life Balance Balance Sheet Sheet and and Increase Increase Your Your Life Life Net Net Worth Worth Previous Previous post post How How to to Be Be a a Good Good Citizen Citizen Ways Ways to to Show Show Good Good Citizenship Citizenship Marelisa Marelisa Fabrega Fabrega Marelisa Marelisa Fabrega Fabrega is is a a lawyer lawyer and and entrepreneur entrepreneur She She holds holds a a Bachelor Bachelor of of Science Science in in Business Business Administration Administration from from Georgetown Georgetown University University in in Washington Washington D D C C as as well well as as a a Juris Juris Doctor Doctor from from the the Georgetown Georgetown University University Law Law Center Center You You can can learn learn more more about about her her here here Popular Popular Posts Posts Tips Tips For For Writers Writers From From Writers Writers Ways Ways to to Slow Slow Down Down Aging Aging and and Live Live Longer Longer How How to to Conduct Conduct a a Life Life Audit Audit Journal Journal Prompts Prompts For For Your Your Journal Journal Jar Jar Things Things to to Do Do With With a a Moleskine Moleskine or or Any Any Notebook Notebook Recent Recent Posts Posts Must Must Read Read Books Books by by Ancient Ancient Roman Roman Philosophers Philosophers Ways Ways to to Cure Cure Wanderlust Wanderlust When When You You Can Can t t Travel Travel How How to to Increase Increase Your Your Goal Goal Commitment Commitment to to Achieve Achieve Anything Anything You You Want Want How How to to 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