1. reading. i hate reading with the television on. or the smart phone nearby. or reading while keeping an eye on the laptop. focus on the book. read slowly. carefully.

2. running. i like running without music. i like to listen to nature, the sounds of my feet and breathing. i do my best thinking here.

3. conversation. when you are having a conversation with someone, why oh why are you thinking about or doing ANYTHING else?

4. writing. this should be a creative, emotional and personal activity. why take away from writing by thinking about and doing other things.

5. shaving. i know this is odd, but i love the process of shaving. going slowly, carefully, methodically, enjoying the scents of the lotion. this process grounds me. [sidenote: i think it is wise to invest in the best quality blades, creams, lotions - it is worth it]

6. thinking. frankly, if you are multi-tasking here, you aren’t thinking. you are just conscious.

7. loving. the thing you are loving should be front and center. in complete focus. however you define loving here.

8. eating. with the exception of eating with friends and enjoying conversation while eating, eating should be done without distraction. relish the preparation, savor the tastes, savor the scents, savor the wine that goes with the meal.

9. work. when you are working on a project for a customer, focus on the project. nothing else. don’t be distracted by idle conversation, email, texts, news, meetings, etc.

10. down time. no rules here, but do whatever you need to do to clear your mind from the hustle of life. don’t let ANYTHING get in the way of that. i mean ANYTHING…

[pic from tumblr]