In an age of distraction, nothing can feel more luxurious than paying attention,” says writer Pico Iyer.
Paying attention means being mindful. When our lives have become tech-centric and we are always moving on from one task to another, how do we add a sense of luxury to our daily life?
Luxury is not here being talked about in terms of accumulating more material products. It’s being seen here as to have some time to reflect, think and do certain things mindfully.
Here are three simple ways to have a sense of luxury in your life.
1. Declutter your space
To have a sense of luxury, one needs to have a sense of clarity. For that, clarity in your physical space is as important as your mental space. Studies have seen that clutter in physical space creates a sense of feeling lost and confusion. In some people, it also creates anxiety and frustration. So, if you want to have a sense of calmness and luxury in your life, make sure to declutter your space. Clean, donate, recycle, upcycle as per your needs and requirements. Having too much is not the answer. Quality is more important than quantity.
2. Bring in nature
Plants give a sense of calmness to an otherwise hectic life. Even if you are living in an apartment, make sure to have some indoor plants. The pandemic made me work from home and it has been a tough experience. But that also inspired me to become a first time plant parent. I bought some indoor plants from a neighbourhood. The plants give me a sense of joy and life. Looking after these plants, watering them makes me really happy. It also makes home look happily luxurious.
3. Be mindful
Being mindful is a luxury not many can afford now. But one can make an attempt to achieve that. It can be as simple as having a cup of tea mindfully. Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh says it beautifully, “I am real and the tea is real. I am in the present. I don’t think of the past or future. There is a real encounter between me and the tea and peace, happiness, joy are possible the time I drink,” So, it’s necessary to be mindful of the act and just be in the act. And that is definitely a luxury.
