Meghan S.According to Drive Research, nearly 73% of Americans drink coffee every day. Current figures put the United States’ population at around 340 million people. That means over 248 million Americans are enjoying a cup of joe on the daily. That translates to 15.5 million gallons of caffeinated goodness (don’t check me on that math, I haven’t had my coffee yet). That could fill about 235 Olympic-sized swimming pools. When you think about just how much coffee we drink each and every day, it only makes sense we spend that time sipping away working on our own mindfulness.
Believe it or not, in addition to caffeinating us, coffee (and caffeinated tea for that matter) is also a powerful component of a very particular form of mindfulness: coffee meditation. Morning coffee (or tea for Brits) is an age-long tradition, and one that we should not put to waste. Instead of taking part in a sitting mindfulness meditation session, do one with coffee instead! Here’s how.
How Mindfulness Helps Us (Coffee or Not)
Mindfulness — the act of focusing on the present, and honing your attention on your thoughts, feelings, and environment — is a popular method of attaining spiritual, mental, and physical nirvana. It is a wonderful component of any wellness routine, and a perfect way to stay grounded and in-tune with elements of life that often go unnoticed or underappreciated. Neglecting our mindfulness is like neglecting exercise or diet: your mind and body are going to suffer as a result.
Don’t just take my word for it, there is plenty of research to back this up! According to the Mayo Clinic, mindfulness meditation can help keep our blood pressure low, beat back stress, and improve our attention span all at the same time! How many prescription medications would it take to do the same thing? 5,000? Anyway, mindfulness is definitely worth the effort, and regardless if it’s practiced with a cup of hot coffee or tea in hand or not.
Sip and Meditate
Now, you have probably been wondering: how do you practice mindfulness with a cup of coffee? Well, think of it as a tool to imbue your mindfulness meditation with something a bit more… caffeinated. And warm. Something you can hold onto, rather than simply placing your hands in your lap. Here is how it’s done:
- Find somewhere comfortable to sit with your morning cup of joe.
- While this mindfulness practice is best done when your coffee is nice and hot, it’s best not to do it when it’s too toasty. The last thing you want is to break free from your mindfulness session when the piping hot brew singes your tongue like a kebab over a hot flame.
- Much like traditional mindfulness meditation, it’s best to start by focusing on your breath; breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth.
- Pay attention to the warm cup of coffee (or tea) in your hand. Doesn’t that warmth just make you feel like you’re getting a hug from a good friend? It’s wonderful!
- Let this exercise soothe and relax you. Once you’re ready, take a sip from your cup.
- Enjoy the rest of your cup of coffee during a great session of coffee meditation, and enjoy the benefits that come with it!
Conclusion
Many of us enjoy our morning cups of coffee (or tea). The caffeine therein helps invigorate us for the day ahead. Without our caffeine, most of us better resemble piles of gelatinous sludge than people (speaking from experience, I do occasionally feel like sludge when I forget to drink coffee). Coffee is such a big part of our lives that it is a shame when we don’t take best advantage of our time sipping away at our cups each day. That is why I enjoy practicing coffee meditation, and why you should give it a shot as well. If you are interested in other lifestyle, wellness, or mindfulness articles, please check out our blog for more!
