No, seriously you don't have to. These are simple and easy to follow rules and rituals that anyone (you) can follow and live a happier, mindful life.
So, what we do when we come across a new term?
We ask the Almighty Google, right?
Well, that's what I did too, see below.
No, I didn’t dear Google.
I meant exactly what I wrote in there.
Never mind, Google, I understand it’s difficult to keep up with the things.
Introduction
Okay, show of hands.
Who else would like to live a clutter free, meaningful and focused life by embracing simple principals?
Everybody, right?
So, is it about becoming a Zen Monk?
No. But, it sure is about how you can embrace simple Zen rituals in your everyday life including the way you dress and live beautifully.
I am not a Zen Monk, nor do I plan to become one. What fascinates me about them is the simplicity of their lives, the focused approach to everything they do and the peace they discover in their lives.
It’s frustrating to keep up with the clutter that happens around us every day. With the latest new gadgets, ever changing fashion trends, and new designer labels hitting up the market every two seconds – it can all get very stressful.
Retailers on the other hand want to push cheap, unethical products down our throat with hugely discounted prices and gimmicky marketing. Lives are being scarified, in the quest for the lowest prices.
Why do you think they do this?
They are in the quest for the lowest prices because we want it. We consume more than what we need.
Just look around your place, how many things are there that you don’t use anymore. A lot, right?
Should we not change this?
Should we not get rid of the unnecessary?
Is it not the time to live a life with meaning?
What is Zen?
"Zen" is the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese character "chan," which is in turn the Chinese translation from the Indian Sanskrit term "dhyana," which means meditation.
More than that, it is a way of living in the present. Be fully aware of your surroundings.
Live a life of purpose. Living fully and authentically in the present moment makes each moment filled with a profound peace and clarity.
You probably don’t want to become a Zen Monk, and you don’t have to. These rules are simple, and you too can live a life of peace and sanity by following these simple Zen rules.
“Zen is not some kind of excitement, but concentration on our usual everyday routine.” - Shunryu Suzuki
“Smile, breathe and go slowly.”
What is Zenswear?
Let me be the first to welcome you to the club of #Zenswear, an art of giving up the unnecessary, embracing the essentials, and being fully aware of what we consume.
It’s tough to keep up with the modern life. We often become victims of simply moving through the day without fully living.
No, it’s not just about buying the right clothes, gadgets or accessories.
It’s about demanding transparency in whatever you consume. Let it be a piece of fabric, or an expensive accessory.
Zenswear is not only about what color you should wear or what fabric you should clad your body with, it’s also about being mindful about the origin of the product you use, and under what circumstances the product was made.
Brands like Everlane, No Nastieshave embraced transparency and fair trade methods at the core of their operations and marketing.
Millennnials (more on this later!) want social responsibility and transparency from the brands they buy, reports BOF.
Zenswear is a state of mind, a way of life, and a blend of daily rituals to live a more mindful life
How to know if you’re already Zenswear
- You do one thing at a time.
- You dress with focus
- You’re mindful about your surroundings
- You live in the moment
- You avoid the unnecessary
- You buy clothes that are ethically made
- You demand transparency from the brands you interact with.
- You avoid distractions
- You live simply
- You meditate
- The clothes you have in your wardrobe are in the shades of whites, greys or blacks. (No fluff, no seasonal florals, prints or camos)
- You hate wearing a watch (No offence to watch companies, but this is my personal opinion. I believe a watch is the most irrelevant and overrated accessory in today’s world.)
Well, if you’re none of the above, do not worry.
It’s not that difficult to become Zenswear.
Let’s look at some of the rules and rituals that you can follow to discover peace and mindfulness in your lives.
Daily Rituals – Find your Everyday Zen
For most of us, our morning and evening routines can make or break us.
We all have our daily routines, but the problem with our routines is they are done mindlessly.
Rituals are a way of inviting something positive into our lives. So, you are more conscious about your surroundings, don’t forget what’s important, and live each day of your life more mindfully.
Sit with yourself. When you wake up, find a place in your home where you can sit with just yourself in peace. No distractions, no TV, no newspaper, no mobile phones, no book, no talking to anyone else, nothing. Just you and your sweet little soul. Focus on your breath, be in the moment. No planning your day forward, no thinking about what you did yesterday, nothing. I bet these five minutes will be the best time of your entire day. You will feel energized, focused and it will help bring in the moment.
Don’t Multitask. Do one thing at a time. Focus on one task. When you’re brushing your teeth, just brush your teeth. When you’re eating your breakfast, just eat. When you’re bathing, just bathe. When you’re wearing your shirt, focus on how you button up your shirt. When you apply perfume, count the number of sprays you spray. Zen proverb: “When walking, walk. When eating, eat.” It may all sound a bit silly, but do this. This will help you be more aware in the now, and that’ll form a good positive habit.
Stay Conscious. You might do one task at a time, but don’t rush through it. Take your time, stay focused and do not rush through the task randomly, just because you’ve other things to do. Do it slowly and deliberately.
Finish First. Focus on the task completely. Don’t jump on to the next task until you’re finished. Finish what you’re doing right now first and then move on to the next task. If you dress in the morning, don’t start looking for your wallet or phone or keys until you’ve tucked in your shirt, worn your belt, socks, perfume and combed your hair. Now, when you’re done with this task, you can focus more completely on the next one.
Do Fewer Things. No, this doesn’t translate to being lazy or anywhere near that. This means doing a few important tasks in a day that bring great value and fulfillment than to have an unending list of unimportant tasks. Few tasks mean, you can do them deliberately, more completely and with more conscious mind. If you fill your day with more tasks, you will be rushing through one thing to another without being conscious about your doing. And at the end of the day you’ll feel more exhausted, without achieving much.
Design your routine. Designate time for each small or big activity. Time for eating, time for work, time for your family and friends and time for being with yourself. There are no particular rules here; you can allot time based on your priority. But make sure you put breaks between your activities. Don’t schedule task close together. Leave room between each task.
Get rid of the unnecessary. Open your wardrobe, what do you see? A closet full of clothes, shoes, accessories, and many other things that you don’t use anymore or haven’t used in the past six months. And what about your three different types of Ipods and mobile phones. A lot of trash, right? Get rid of it. Have only the necessary. Make a habit of buying what you think is necessary. Avoid falling for buy one get one schemes and other gimmicky techniques. Get what’s good and essential. This will stop clutter to accumulate around your life and space. And you can live a more liberating, clutter free and happy life.
Support good deeds. Support and work with people or companies that are ethical and transparent. Appreciate and spread a word about good deeds of other people. Be ethical, honest and transparent in your behavior. Stand by the side of the right. Give often.
Don’t give to get, give to inspire others to give.
Consume Less but Better. Have fewer things of higher quality that will look better and last longer. Be mindful about your spending. Get what’s better and necessary.
Final Words
I can’t claim I am a complete Zenswear. However, I’ve started to follow many of the rituals and I already see better things happening to me.
I realize this is easier said than done - These rules are habits that are not easy to stick to.
But with little efforts every day, they aren’t impossible to achieve. And I am sure they bring profound peace and clarity in your life.
Let me know what you think about this post and also share your experiences or challenges you face today and how can you apply these simple rules to overcome them.
Written by Samay Mehta -
Samay Mehta is the chief content curator and co-founder of PS. You can find him on Google+ and Twitter.