July Anti-Boredom Month - Mindfulness & Flow - Day 9

Good Morning Yogis! We are in the middle of a special Santosha and Mindfulness Summer Fun Month to align with July’s Anti-Boredom Month.

Today is a KISS (Keep it Super Simple) Day with a simple Fun Practice. This month is National Picnic Month so today we will try a mindful picnic!

Check out this month’s Introduction for more on mindfulness, flow, and Tea Ceremony – my recommended substitute practice for any suggested daily Fun Practice this month you do not want to try. We will have 31 different practices and activities to at minimum beat boredom for Anti-Boredom Month, and hopefully help you experience a flow state.

cute picnic with bread and wine on white blanket in a sunlit grassy field - Picnic - original work -https://unsplash.com/photos/GyE2Iuk3j9g

Today’s Daily Yogi Practice is to try today’s Anti-Boredom / mindfulness/flow Activity: A mindful picnic! Today is a KISS simple day, but you can turn a fun and simple outdoor activity (or really, any meal) into a mindful practice and your own Zen activity. You can make this as simple or as complex as you want, and taking a step back and observing your approach can be a way to learn more about yourself.

Picnics

A picnic is a simple activity. There are three main considerations: Location, Blanket, and Food.

Location

I personally prefer picnics in a grassy city park with lots of people watching. You can also have a picnic in your yard! Beach picnics are a favorite, but make sure to plan your foods around avoiding sand, or find a spot on a bench or boardwalk. Or, load up the car and check out a new spot! Check out 50 Best Picnic Destinations if you need ideas on where to go for your picnic.

I would also say under location to consider what to bring for activities. I recommend a kite for a windy beach, bubbles for a crowded park with lots of other visitors, card games or frisbee for a quiet park, or bring a book or e-reader anywhere!

Blanket

The biggest consideration here will be your location. You may not need a blanket for a bench or table, but I recommend bringing a fun table cloth for both cleanliness and classiness for enjoying a public on public seating. If you are going somewhere with wet grass, I recommend bringing either a waterproof blanket, or a tarp for under your blanket so your blanket (and you) do not get wet!

Food

This is where your mindful practice will come in from start to finish. I love going to a nearby bakery or deli and getting enough to make fresh sandwiches for the picnic. I also prefer fruit and snacks that do not require refrigeration or much clean-up. You can get favorites from a restaurant to-go and enjoy outside. Or, cook your own recipes! Check out this huge list of picnic recipes for ideas. PS it is also National Peach Month and National Blueberry Month, so perhaps celebrate all three in one day with your picnic!

Try to select, prepare, and enjoy your food mindfully. The picnic is not just about the meal, so make sure to find another activity to enjoy outside and fully immerse yourself.

Try to calmly take notice when your thoughts drift back to the past or forward to the future. Try to bring yourself back to and fully immerse yourself in the present moment by focusing on the sight, sounds, smells, taste, or feel of your surroundings.

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