Have you ever seen ants marching in search of food? They follow one another in an almost endless game that seems to drone on and on. Does your life feel like an ant’s life – as if you’re going from day to day, doing the same thing, the same way, and nothing ever changes?

If so, there’s a high probability you’re not living consciously.

Conscious living is being aware of your life and your actions. It’s about taking the time to stop and smell the roses to see where you fit into the whole picture. Living consciously is vital in enjoying the fleeting moments we have on Earth.

It’s essential to take note of what’s going on around us and be aware of what we’re doing. Living consciously brings us an understanding of what we’re capable of doing and paves the way for us to get where we want to go.

Benefits of Conscious Living

Perhaps you’re wondering, “What’s in it for me?” Conscious living brings many benefits, which you may already be seeking.

Here are just a few of these benefits:

1. Relieve stress. Conscious living can be a great stress reliever. Not only does it make life more enjoyable when you alleviate your stress, but it also makes you healthier. Stress affects every process in our bodies and can cause severe disease if it builds up within us.
2. Expand your horizons. As you become more aware of your surroundings, you’ll find that you can better understand the world and your place in it.
3. Live in the moment. You’ll be more focused on your work throughout the day because you’re consciously acting on a specific task.
4. Enjoy more passion in your relationships. While living consciously, your relationships will become more meaningful because you’ll appreciate them and the other person. You’ll be more in tune with your partner and aware of every want and need.
5. Know your importance. Your job will become more fulfilling because you’re more conscious of your role in the grand scheme. You no longer answer a phone or hand someone a photocopy, but you are consciously making a difference.
6. Bring color into your world. Your surroundings will become more vibrant because you’ll notice things like the subtle differences between the shades of the trees and the direction of the soft breeze.
7. Being conscious of life makes life more fun. When you’re living consciously, bad days are few and far between.

Action Steps to Living Consciously

Luckily, transforming your humdrum life into one filled with vibrant joy is easier than you may think! You can make simple adjustments to your everyday routines to live consciously and fully enjoy your life.

Here are some action steps you can take to bring conscious living to your life:

1. Stop. Take some time to stop throughout the day and look around. Be aware of where you are and what’s around you. Become conscious of your surroundings and notice how you fit into them. Notice the details, such as the green on the trees or the condensation dripping down the side of the cup. Become in tune with what your body feels and search out the sensations of your fingers and toes while feeling your chest rise and fall with each breath.
2. Breathe. Take deep breaths and be in the moment. Don’t think about what you’ve done or what you still have to do; take a minute or two to breathe! 
3. Learn. Take a few minutes each day to try something new. Pick a book you’ve wanted to read or learn a new skill. Doing this makes you conscious of your life and what you can do with it.

There are many things you can do to live life to its fullest. Living consciously is one of the most straightforward changes to make daily. Please take a few of these ideas, integrate them into your routine, and begin enjoying the benefits of living consciously!