In recent years, society has glorified the grind through hustle culture, pressuring us into lifestyles that are not sustainable in the long run. However, if we want to experience joy in our daily working lives, as well as reasonable career longevity, we must learn to practice grindfulness.
What is grindfulness?
Grindfulness is “being present and mindful enough in daily life to notice the details and show gratitude for the positive aspects of whatever grind you find yourself in” (Scott Mautz, author of “The Mentally Strong Leader” and “Leading from the Middle”).
Image: Pixabay/Peter Olexa
We can practice it by catching those tiny moments and letting it simmer in gratitude.
Your cup of coffee during your workday.
Seeing a rainbow peek through the clouds.
Having a laugh with a colleague at work.
Appreciating that you have enough strength to walk around the block and pick up lunch.
Enjoying a nice sunset after your shift.
Moments and experiences provide better happiness boosts than material things. In a 2003 study of 1200 individuals by Leaf Van Boven and Tom Gilovich, it was discovered that after an estimated $100 purchase, nearly double the respondents felt happier after an experiential purchase versus after a material purchase. More specifically, 57% felt happier after an experiential purchase versus the 34% who felt happier after a material purchase.
Image: Pixabay/skalekar1992
It’s a good reminder to all of us, that as we grind for things, we can miss moments.
While workingovertime towards atitle we’re aspiring towards, we can miss out on family time. While we hustle to earn the highest income possible, we can miss personal milestones.
But pure joy comes in the moments.
Being able to catch up over dinner with good friends.
Hearing your toddler saying the darndest thing.
Being available for a family event.
Reading a chapter of a book you really like.
Image: Pixabay/fotografierende
Try dwelling on a moment of gratitude every day this week and take note if it made a difference to your work week. You can let us know in the comments below.
Also, if you are curious about what simple sustainable habits you can practice for a few minutes everyday that can have a profound impact on your overall wellbeing, we have a book in our bookstore that talks about these in detail, as well as the scientific rationale behind why each habit is effective:
Check out our Low-Key Happiness Book here!
Happy World Mental Health Day!
And just like that, Low-Key Wellness is three years old!
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