[Mindfulist] Jan. 4th-14th

[January 4th] Power On: What was your first thought as you powered on/opened up your computer today?

I contemplated the slice of pumpkin loaf I had purchased from the Starbucks in the Reitz Union. I was hoping it was a healthy option considering I had no healthy snack options at home. I had meant to bake whole wheat oatmeal muffins last night, but I never did get around to it. In case you were wondering, I could probably waste about $5.50 every morning on a slice of pumpkin loaf and a cup of hazelnut cappuccino for breakfast if I wasn’t such a frugal person.

[January 5th] Downtime: How do you respond when your favorite site/commenting system/email provider experiences downtime?

When any of the above experiences downtime, I tend to get a bit irritated. My level of irritation depends on what I’d like to do. If it’s Twitter, I simply move on with my day. If it’s the local newspaper’s website, I wax neurotic.

[January 6th] Whodunnit?: Whodunnit? A 1 minute 55 second awareness test.

Follow the link back to The Mindfulist to click the video link (I realize this seems silly, but I’m aiming to send credit back their way). Pay close attention to the video — it’s like one of those picture puzzles in the newspaper almost. I loved it.

[January 7th] Workplace Awareness: Identify three bells of awareness/mindfulness at work. For example you might, minimize Facebook when your boss walks by. Or swivel in your chair when the phone rings. What are your three?

1. Yes, I did indeed minimize Facebook — or any other such websites — when people walk by. Shame on me.
2. When the phone rings, I turn my head to look at the phone so I can see which line it is and what phone number shows up on the caller ID.
3. When a vehicle drives past outside, I look up to identify it: is it a delivery driver needing to get into the package room, a physical plant worker coming to perform a maintenance task, or is it just a random vehicle driving by?

[January 8th] “Relaxation is who you are.”: “Tension is who you think you should be. Relaxation is who you are.” -Chinese proverb

Indeed.

[January 9th] Zone Out: During which activities do you zone out? Actively make note of them today (on paper/in a text doc).

• Web surfing
• Writing
• Reading
• Watching TV/Movies/Streams
• …just about any activity is an opportunity to zone out when you’re sleep deprived and deficient in attention

~Skipping January 10th as the prompt is specific to Sundays~

[January 11th] One Item: Can you remove one item from you work area to give yourself more space to think? Do so now.

I removed a sticky note with out-dated information and a sheet of paper to be recycled. I adjusted my two pet shop collectibles from my tea box.

~Skipping January 12th & 13th as the prompts are more like action prompts, rather than writing prompts. ~

[January 14th] Breath Quality: How are you breathing right now? If the quality of your life depends on the quality of your breath, how’s yours?

I am breathing both from my chest and from my stomach at the same time. My bronchi seem to be mildly constricted. I will allow you to extrapolate from this as to what the quality of my life is right now. Somehow, it seems fitting to me, although I can’t seem to quite explain it properly.