Radio Headspace

We’ve gotten a lot of emails at Headspace HQ about healthy habits and routines. Right now, it can feel challenging to control your environment, but today, we challenge you to instead focus on what’s going on inside. When you’re able to notice a thought, you can respond calmly, clearly, with intention rather than react emotionally.

Blue Zones are regions of the world where people live longer and happier than anywhere else. There are lots of reasons for this — what they eat, how much they move. But the deep relationships that people in Blue Zones have add up to 8 years to their lives. Is there someone special to you that you haven’t connected with in a while? This weekend, give them a call.

When life feels overwhelming, you can feel like the tank is empty. That you have nothing left to give. But if you dig a little deeper, you may find that the act of giving fills you back up. So today, try to find an opportunity to practice kindness and generosity — in secret if you can — and see how it makes you feel.

We’re busy. Even now, when our homes have become our gyms, offices, and more, we tend to hop from activity to activity without pause. The mind feels softer and the body feels more relaxed when we allow ourselves to transition. Today, try to allow for some time in-between activities and see how you feel. Want a little more movement in your day? Listen to Andy on Trained and check out some mindful runs on the Headspace app.

We’ve heard a lot of questions about happiness lately. Mostly, “is it bad if I’m feeling happy?” That assumes there is a choice in how we feel. That question also forgets that there is enough space in the mind for compassion for someone else’s  suffering, and enjoyment of your own life. Today, give yourself the freedom to embrace whatever feeling arises for you.

If you’re reexamining your life right now, you’re not alone. We’re taking stock of what we like and what we would like to change. But with change, no matter how positive, can often come fear. Fear of not knowing what the end result will be. This week, try to maintain a spirit of exploration. Try something new for the sake of doing it, not to reach a final outcome.

Getting along with other people doesn’t mean constant harmony or even agreement. We don’t have to always like what the people around us do. But we do have to allow people to be exactly who they are. After all, isn’t that what we want for ourselves? This weekend, consider that harmonious relationships are less about what we do, and more about what we don’t do. Not judging, criticizing, or trying to change them.

Today is World Meditation Day and while it is a wonderful practice, the minutes you spend in meditation are quite small compared to the remaining time of each day. Mindfulness is what happens in those remaining hours, and if you can bring a little of that attention or awareness into the rest of your day, that is the quality of meditation.

Often, we think that when conditions are just right we can finally change. We fantasize about solitude and quietly retreating to finally tackle the big issues weighing on our minds. If only we had that peace and quiet, we could do it! But it’s often the input from others that show us exactly where those points of resistance are. If you find yourself irritated, frustrated, or resisting something or someone in your environment today, try embracing that moment as a chance to connect with yourself on a deeper level.

A lot of us are trying to build a sense of order and control amidst the chaos that is our lives right now. Very often, that can look like a very strict daily schedule, a list of books and movies to cross off your queue, or perhaps keeping the home very tidy. It’s good to have order, but being too strict with it means we feel like we’re falling apart when one thing is out of line. Today, try to allow for a little more chaos and be comfortable in the discomfort.

Finding time for yourself may seem like an odd concept — especially if you’re quarantining alone — but it’s easy to get distracted, from being caught up in Zoom calls to binge-watching TV or constantly reading the news. If you’re with others, it’s tempting to look at taking time for yourself as selfish, but in solitude, we can find a way to reconnect with ourselves. And when we go back out into life we can be better for ourselves, and for the people around us.

The weekend gives you the opportunity to relax and let go — but some things stick in your mind, nagging at it, weighing you down. It may be an unfinished task or an unforgiven incident. We suffer when we hold onto things, but if you can find a way to let go, to retell your story, forgiveness will set you free.

Children throw tantrums and we call them “naughty.” We say, “they’ll grow out of it,” and move on. But as adults, we don’t stop reacting — it just looks a little different. We may say or do something we regret. So the next time someone around you is reacting in a way that’s surprising, take a step back and create some space.

A lot of us are cooped up much more than usual. You may not even be able to go outside for a walk where you live — and you may not want to. It can feel like there’s too much going on. But in every moment, we have the opportunity to pause and take a good look. See the colors of the world, the simplicity of a tree or flower, and appreciate that moment of calm.

Is it possible to feel happy in the midst of a global health crisis? It depends on what you consider “happiness” to be. Happiness is often fleeting, but contentment and peace of mind are always there — even in times of great difficulty.

Ten years after we launched Headspace, we’re launching our first official podcast. Because now, more than ever, there’s so much noise in the world. Most of us don’t know how we approach our own minds, thoughts, or feelings. We can get so caught up in our individual circumstances that we don’t see that we’re all in this together — and that shared unity is a beautiful thing. Tune in to new episodes of Radio Headspace every weekday morning.

At Headspace, we believe in finding mindfulness in your everyday life. But what we love most about mindfulness is that it isn't about believing anything. Mindfulness is just a framework for exploring your life as it exists right now. In every episode of Radio Headspace, we'll be cultivating awareness and compassion, and asking ourselves, how can we live a life that best reflects us? Join Andy Puddicombe for a few minutes every weekday morning to step out of the internal chatter and into your potential.