Ever since founding Retreat Here, people often think my days consist of green juices, smoothie bowls, and hours of yoga and exercise. I get up at 6am, set my intention for the day, write in my gratitude journal, go for a run, meditate, have a turmeric latte while I catch up on some reading, and have a nutritious breakfast that I eat without looking at my inbox… all before 8am.
Not quite!
So how do I live more mindfully in Melbourne?
In an ideal world, my morning routine would look exactly as above, but the truth is that I am not a morning person. Never have been, never will be. I have accepted that I will never ‘master my mornings’ (and so has my husband!) like Oprah – especially not at 6am! And that’s absolutely fine.
Having said that, I do ‘practice what I preach’ and most days I eat healthy, exercise for at least 30 minutes, and try to either incorporate yoga or meditation in my day, if only for 10 minutes. I also try to be mindful with everything I do, rather than going on auto-pilot. I take regular breaks, do breathing exercises when I’m overwhelmed and I make sure to drink plenty of water. Where possible, I switch off digital devices after 7pm and I never take my smartphone into the bedroom.
And when I need a helping hand and some extra mindfulness inspiration, I turn to my favourite apps and magazines to keep me on track.
Meditation and mindfulness apps
Perfect for your morning routine or lunch breaks, these apps offer a mindful break in your modern-day Melbourne life.
- Insight Timer: A free app with over 3.4 million meditators. This is my favourite at the moment. Users can log their private sessions and also listen to guided meditations.
- Headspace: Your very own personal mind trainer to help reduce stress and anxiety.
- Calm: A mindfulness and meditation app designed to bring clarity and happiness in your daily life.
- Sattva: A meditation timer and mood tracker with free guided meditations.
- Buddhify: Over 80.000 custom on-the-go meditations to create peace of mind in a busy lifestyle.
- Smiling Mind: Designed to develop a healthy mind, this guided meditation app takes modern meditation to a new level.
- Evenflow: A mindfulness app that offers guided meditation, inspiring programs and therapeutic insights.
Meditation and Mindfulness Podcasts
Start your day with a motivational boost or tune in to one of these podcasts for a quick pick-me-up during your work commute.
- Rachael Kable: My go-to site for mindfulness inspiration, Rachael is a mindfulness mentor, award-winning blogger and also host of The Mindful Kind podcast. Her website offers tons of information to help you live a life with purpose. Make sure you become a member as this unlocks access to her mindfulness community with lots of extras, such as workbooks, infographics, checklists and special offers.
- The Slow Home podcast: Discover the benefits of living with less and learn what it’s like to adapt a slower pace in life.
- The Minimalists: These guys focus on making space for more quality time, more experiences, personal growth, freedom and contentment. Following a hugely successful blog/website, and several books, the Minimalist podcast was launched.
- 10 Percent Happier: ABC anchor Dan Harris talks about meditation with mindfulness teachers, celebrities and influencers in the meditation world.
- Daily Boost: A daily motivational podcast delivering fresh content to help you live a better life.
Mindfulness Sites and Magazines
Treat yourself to a mindful escape before bed-time with these gorgeous magazines. Just be mindful (no pun intended..) you don’t read the online version after 7pm.
- Breathe Magazine: Designed to nourish both body and soul, Breathe Magazine is a bi-monthly lifestyle publication dedicated to help you ‘make more time for yourself’. Every issue is created around 5 key pillars of health: Wellbeing, Mindfulness, Living, Escaping and Creativity.
- Audrey Daybook: Audrey is a beautiful and elegant lifestyle magazine for the modern-day woman, including travel articles, puzzles and inspiration for a life well lived.
- Living Now: Australia’s largest holistic magazine – both print and online – inspiring you in your personal journey to happiness.
- Mindful: This not-for-profit organisation is for anyone wanting to learn more about mindfulness. With a resourceful website and bi-monthly magazine, Mindful offers stories, insights and advice to help you live more mindfully.
- Greater Good: This online magazine by the University of California offers science-based stories, videos, quizzes and podcasts for a more meaningful life.
I hope my mini guide will inspire you to live more mindfully in your daily life!
About the author: Sab is the founder of Retreat Here and Sabijn Linssen Yoga. She creates Yoga and Wine Events & Retreats to connect like-minded women in Victoria. She’s also a fully certified Yoga Instructor, offering private and corporate yoga classes in Melbourne.
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