Creating Lists for Mindfulness

Practicing mindfulness is simply holding present-moment awareness. To be mindful is to bring attention to one’s inner world— thoughts, feelings, sensations without judgement. 

There are SO many mindfulness activities to promote self-awareness, focus and emotional regulation. One activity is making lists — No, I don’t mean to-do lists, grocery lists, or even calendaring. 

While those types of lists can be helpful with managing logistics of life, let’s make lists that bring us closer to ourselves— our joy, our self-understanding, our curiosities and so on..

When we are creating lists, we temporarily shut out external factors and turn our attention to the topic at hand. For this activity, the topic(s) will be all about YOU— your present moment, your past, goals or take aways.

Some examples of lists:

1. List songs that feel like comfort, calm, and rest.
2. List all the things you’d like to be able to do with more ease and lightness. 
3. List the ways you are different now than you were one year ago.
4. List the people you think of as your chosen family.
5. List the rituals and traditions you look forward to keeping in your life.

And the “lists” go on! Notice how these are lists that ask you to turn inwards. 

Challenge: After you make a list (ie. list of your favorite snacks), now rank them from your most to least favorite! Children especially enjoy this additional challenge, as they now have to reflect and describe their process. 

More lists for children:

1. List of your favorite summer activities
2. List of your top ice cream flavors
3. List of best Halloween candies