Inspiration

Be Mindful. Be Mindless.

Both are important.

Sherri Reed

06 Jul 2025 — 3 min read

Being mindful is a way to slow down and connect to one's surroundings and values as one goes about one's day. I'm sure you've all heard of mindfulness practice. But have you heard of using mindlessness to your advantage? That's what I want to talk about today.

I like to be especially mindful when doing something I love, such as walking, cooking, or absorbing nature. I achieve the mindful state primarily by breathing slowly, putting down my phone, and appreciating all the steps, smells, and sights as though they are the only things in the world.

Being mindless, though, can sometimes come in handy.

For example, let's say you want to add a morning walk after breakfast every day to get the blood flowing and aid digestion. You have to 1) decide where you'll go, 2) check the weather, 3) find appropriate shoes and a coat, 4) get your playlist downloaded onto your phone, and 5) get your water bottle filled. Let's look at making some of these actions 'mindless.'

If you have a route that works well, stick to it. There's one less decision. You could have a short and long route, and choose between the two based on your energy levels while out. Have a standard route, but be flexible once you're outside.

Have one or two playlists or podcasts already downloaded to your phone or MP4 player, or if you prefer listening to the outdoors, all the better. You don't want to sit down before your walk and start messing with electronic devices. We all know how time-consuming our phones and computers can be. Instead, have your player ready and step out onto the porch!

Keep all your gear in one spot and easy to grab. Fill your water bottle the night before or have it washed and ready for use. Perhaps you enjoy walking with a cup of tea or coffee. If so, get as much of the setup done the night before so you don't get caught in the prep and lose your inspiration.

The more decision points you can remove from getting out the door, the better.

That's what I mean by mindless. These are simple steps, ones you've likely thought of before. However, framing them as removing decision points or moments that stall your forward movement toward the start of the goal (in this case, a walk) can help you understand their power and think of additional decision points you might be able to minimize. Once you're on the walk, be mindful, enjoy your surroundings, and be glad you've begun such a great habit.