Admittedly, I am a task oriented person.
Typically, I am thinking about my next activity while completing the task at hand.
As a result, I am not always living in the moment; not fully present.
I have decided to change this practice--and you can too--using minute meditations.
Here are some mindful ways to tackle household chores: Salad making meditation - Some days I wish I had a self-propagating salad bar on my kitchen counter but, since I don't, I have learned to prepare my salads with mindfulness.
Treat your vegetables with reverence as they are miraculous creations from the earth.
Pay attention to their color, texture and aroma.
Slice them while giving thanksgiving to Mother Earth and infuse abundance into your nourishing meal.
Pot-washing meditation - In the spirit of Mr.
Myogi from the Karate Kid, I scrub my pots with the circular wax on, wax off motion until their brilliance (mostly) returns.
Particularly stubborn stains are a reminder that life's not always easy.
Sometimes we need to use greater strength and have more patience before we can shine.
Vacuuming meditation - Hum along to the drone of the vacuum with an internal "om" allowing your mind to quiet.
Use the back and forth motion of the machine to stretch your body--carpet yoga, if you will! Ironing meditation - Okay, so some people don't iron any more but, if you do, make it count.
Feel the warmth of the fabric after the steam has penetrated the cloth.
Recognize that you have the power to straighten out the wrinkles in your life (or accept the smile lines on your face!).
Marvel at the elegance of a crisp white blouse.
Plant-watering meditation - Houseplants purify the air we breathe and add color and beauty to any room.
Nourish your plants not only with fresh, clean water but with loving energy.
Allow the plants to feel your higher vibration and learn to feel theirs.
Raking - Whether I am raking autumn leaves or spring mulch, I try to take in the reflect on the cycle of life.
I love the sound of dried leaves under my feet and I find the fiery reds, yellows, and oranges that appear as daylight wanes to be spectacular.
Mulch can be a little smelly (manure-like, really) but I love the feel of it between my fingers.
I am grateful for the protection it provides to the green shoots of my daffodils as they return from their winter slumber.
What chores do you tend to dread? It's time to embrace them and turn them into a moment of zen!