How to Live Zen-Like

Zen is the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese character for "meditation." It is the principle of completely accepting the realities of life and being fully aware of one's connection with the world and its inhabitants. If you want to adopt these ideals in your daily life, there are some things you can everyday to reduce stress and gain a balanced and healthy perspective on life.

Things You'll Need

• Clock
• Pen
• Paper

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Instructions

• 1

  Stop multi-tasking. Do one thing at a time, and do it as slowly as you need to, to ensure that it is done correctly and without stress. This is in keeping with the Zen proverb: "When walking, walk. When eating, eat." Focus your attention on one thing at a time, whether it's playing with a child or organizing your closet. Take in all the emotions or thoughts associated with the moment.

• 2

  Take some of the tasks off of your busy schedule. In order to complete each of your tasks, you should make your schedule as free as possible, so that you're not overwhelmed with finishing too much in one day. Determine how many things you're going to do a day, and stick to it. No more, no less. This way, you can truly rest when it's time to, and devote yourself to your work at the appropriate times.

• 3

  Space out your appointments and obligations in a way that suits you. This will help you to clear your head before you move onto the next phase of your day. For instance, once you've finished your professional meetings, take half an hour to mentally prepare yourself for a date with your spouse. This gives you time to switch gears and get out of "work mode," so you can enjoy your loved one's company.

• 4

  Practice zazen, or sitting meditation, daily. Simply sitting in silence for a few minutes will teach you to take in the present moment, without distraction, and connect with the world around you. Zazen will also help you to get in touch with your emotions, your reasons for feeling anxious or uncertain and what you can realistically do to alter these feelings. You may find, through meditation, that you are not able to control as much as you would like to think, and will slowly learn the process of accepting both the pleasant and unpleasant aspects of life.

• 5

  Help others as often as you can. This reminds you that it is important to be humble and assist those in need, whether these individuals are family members or strangers. Lending your time and resources to others also reminds you not to be selfish, and serves you well in all your relationships.