The things we do on a regular basis can feel boring, from showering to driving. It’s possible to turn these ordinary activities into meaningful moments that can boost your mood.

DRIVING:

This guy needs to get off my ass; what the hell? I hope he gets a bleeping ticket! Ever had those thoughts racing in your mind, scrunched face while white knuckling the steering wheel? What if you asked different questions?

Oh, maybe they have to run to the bathroom? What if their child is sick or someone just died? Feels different, huh?

The next time you get into your car, consider this practice.

• Adjust your rearview mirror a little higher, so that you sit a bit taller with a long and aligned spine. Relax your shoulders, soften your elbows, wiggle your hips side to side and allow your knees, legs, ankles and feet to melt towards the floorboard.
• Inhale for three, two, one. Exhale three, two, one.
• As you begin to drive, notice your mood and your energy.
• When you see the aggressive or the overly cautious drivers, say in your mind three times, “Just as I wish to, may you be healthy, happy and safe.”

SHOWERING:

I learned this practice 25 years ago from a friend who was a stripper, paying her way through college. She shared, “After work, I would not only take a shower to wash off my sweat and tears, but I would also imagine the soapy water cleansing the shame stains in my mind and the grime along the walls of my heart.”

The next time you shower, watch your stress and sorrows swirl down the drain.

• Stand with your feet hip width apart, shoulders relaxed, arms by your side.
• Feel the warm water cleanse your whole body, from head to toe.
• As the water rushes over your head, imagine the water washing away the worries and fears that swirl in your mind. Watch them go down the drain.
• Move your awareness to your throat. Is there anything that you wish you said or did not say that day? Imagine the water clearing and cleansing away any regrets.
• Travel your awareness to your heart; imagine the water washing the grime stains stuck on the walls of your heart. Then, watch them spiral down the drain.
• Feel the water over your belly, and imagine the water clearing away any guilt for not listening to your gut instincts.
• Notice the water rinsing down your spine, legs and feet; imagine your self-doubt and insecurities making their way down the drain.
• Observe how your body feels from rinsing the day away.

You don’t need to go to a yoga or mindfulness class to experience the benefits of practices like these, which can help lower blood pressure, decrease depression and anxiety, and increase concentration and overall well-being.

When we shift our focus, we turn off the protective part of our brains (amygdala) and turn on the thoughtful part of our brains (pre-frontal cortex). This allows our brains to evolve into kinder versions ourselves.

Now ask yourself — what are other mundane activities that I can turn into meaningful moments?