I’ve always been one of those people who likes to have 5 things going on at once: when I’m “watching TV,” you’ll most likely also find me scrolling through Instagram, doing my nightly stretches, flossing, texting, or all of the above. The problem with always multitasking is that it prevents me from ever being fully present in the moment, and sometimes it feels like life is rushing by so fast that I might blink and miss it.
One of my biggest goals for 2016 is to be more intentional about savoring everyday moments. Even on the busiest days, there’s usually time to stop and enjoy five minutes if I make it a priority. It might mean eating lunch more mindfully so that I actually taste my food, lacing up my tennis shoes for a brisk walk around the block, or brewing a great cup of coffee to elevate a normal afternoon. For today’s post, we teamed up with Nespresso for their new campaign that’s all about Experiencing a Cup Above — making the everyday extraordinary whether it’s through a perfect sip of espresso or putting fresh flowers on my desk. Click through the slides for the little ways that I’m making an effort to literally stop and smell the roses each day, and I’d love to hear in the comments how you make time to savor!
*photos by Kristen Kilpatrick
1. Brew the perfect cup.
You guys know I’m a major coffee lover — it’s one of the only daily rituals that never fails to feel special for me, and stopping what I’m doing to brew a really good cup instantly makes my day more fun. I just got this Nespresso VertuoLine Evoluo which lets me brew both large-cup coffee and authentic espresso at the touch of a button. Nespresso selects only the top 1-2% of coffee from the world’s finest coffee-producing regions so it always results in really exceptional taste.
2. Get outside.
Nothing gets me out of the daily grind quite as effectively as filling my lungs with fresh air and getting in a little physical activity. It’s so easy to spend hours of our workday in front of our screens without a break, so I’m trying to be more intentional about getting up and walking around every hour, and even taking a midday work break for a brisk walk around the neighborhood. Even five minutes makes a huge difference!
3. Soak up some beauty.
Beauty is certainly in the eye of the beholder, and surrounding yourself with whatever you find beautiful can definitely elevate a ho-hum workday. I love to pickup a few blooms on my way home from a meeting, and something about the act of arranging them feels almost therapeutic. Then of course I get to enjoy the beauty they add to my home for the rest of the week!
4. Peruse a cookbook and plan tonight’s dinner.
Okay, some of y’all might not find this that fun, but it’s my personal happy place. There’s nothing I love more than flipping through a favorite cookbook (this one from Gjelina is my current go-to) and finding something new and adventurous to try out.
5. Rearrange a shelf or coffee table.
What is it about rearranging a bookshelf that feels meditative? I’ve had some major “aha” moments while styling a #shelfie — maybe the act of reorganizing causes me to look at things in a new way.
6. Open the windows and just breathe.
Sometimes the most inspiring thing you can do is to do nothing. (Why is it so hard?) Giving our minds a moment to rest or daydream sometimes feels like an indulgence in our busy, tech-driven lives, but it’s so important to leave room for imagination. So spend a few minutes gazing outside the window, breathe deep, and let your mind drift.
I bet some of you will be as interested as I was to learn about Nespresso’s commitment to positively impact the environment by reducing waste. Their aluminum capsules maintain the high-quality taste and aromas of their Grands Crus while also being recyclable. Find out more about Nespresso’s dedicated recycling program and how you can be part of it here.
