Bridie's Gentle Approach to Wintertime Mindfulness Routine

Mindfulness is a word that gets flung around alot. That word ‘mindfulness’ perhaps doesn’t quite transfer the essence of the effect I’m aiming to describe. An Awareness or Openness to what life brings forth perhaps fits better. What rituals and routines open me or close me down? There is a very subtle feeling of that each moment. I just can’t force any routines upon myself for the very reason that opening takes time. I know this from horses. They prefer a gentle approach. 

So the only prescription I would give is to take that approach also. Step by step. Moment by moment. 

These are some of my moments of Opening

Morning Mindfulness Rituals

Mornings are my favourite part of the day. I love what I do, writing and creating beautiful images, so I feel eager to get into the tasks of the day. Meditation doesn’t quite suit me as a morning activity for now, so I generally take my cup of coffee outside into the sunshine and have 20 minutes of easy breathing and grounding down into sensation out there. 

Mid morning – midday

As I said, I love my work, but it does tend to be very heady and intellectual which winds me right up. By midday, I’m consistently feeling anxious and jittery. I have a little rule of three to help me out in these moments. 3 breaths, 3 movements of yoga or QiGong, 3 seconds to close my eyes and regain that sense of stillness within me. 

It’s from that place where my best work comes from anyway, so when I start to get wound up, I know I’m not producing anything great. 

If it’s a beautiful day, I will take my laptop or a book out with me to see my horse, Molly. Her silence and the setting of the beautiful field around her really bring me back into stillness. I walk around the pasture taking care of the grass and find a real sense of ease in that activity. My horse is retired so we just spend a lot of time grooming and I try to help ease any of her old age aches and pains. 

Afternoon Walking Meditations

When it comes to about 3:00pm, my lovely dog Jackson will take it upon herself to remind me that it is time for a walk. I’ve always been a walker, as opposed to a runner or a gym junkie. It allows me to think at a pace that seems to open me up to new ideas and epiphanies. Some of my best ideas have come from a good walk. 

I’m incredibly blessed to live in a town that has a plethora of good walking tracks. Crystal clear lakes and towering redwood forests. I’m spoiled really. 

Notive Nature’s Beauty

There is never not something beautiful to stop and stare at. I’m always stopping to take a photo or look closely at a tree trunk and wonder what it was about it that stood out to me. Forever the horse girl, when I see a particularly beautiful landscape with golden evening light, I’ll imagine where I would place a horse if I were taking a photo there. Asking myself what I would want the image to translate. 

Evening Wind Down Techniques

Mentally I struggle with evenings. I’m not too sure why at this point in time. I just seem to get the jitters quite badly but I have found yoga to be an absolute heaven send. I’ll be a completely different person before and after a good yoga session. 

This womans channel is my current favourite: https://www.youtube.com/@DeviDalyYoga

Sometimes I will follow up with a short meditation and breathwork session to really seal the deal. 

I am still getting to know myself in relation with meditation. It’s a relationship that I don’t want to force because I want it to last my entire life. I’m taking a gentle approach

I hope you’ve enjoyed this quick insight into my current mindfulness routines and rituals. They are always in flux and as I find my way to a new way that works, I will add it into another article. 

Thanks for reading, 

Love Bridie