Vipassana
This is another answer from the same conversation with GPT-4:
Vipassana meditation is indeed a wonderful and profound practice, but you're right that you don't need to go on a ten-day retreat to start benefiting from mindfulness. Here are a few practices that you can weave into your everyday life:
Mindfulness meditation: This is the most straightforward practice. Find a quiet place where you can sit undisturbed for a period of time – start with just 10 minutes a day, and work your way up as you feel comfortable. Sit in a comfortable posture, close your eyes, and simply pay attention to your breath – the sensation of air entering and leaving your nostrils, or your chest rising and falling. When you notice that your mind has wandered (and it will), gently bring your attention back to your breath. This practice helps develop that “mental space” where you can observe your thoughts and feelings without immediately reacting to them.
Mindful walking: Since you mentioned that you'll be cycling to work, consider turning some of your travel time into a mindfulness practice. For example, you might choose to be mindful during the first five minutes of your ride, paying attention to the sensations of cycling – the feel of the pedals under your feet, the wind on your skin, the sights and sounds around you.
Body scan: This is a practice where you pay attention to different parts of your body, one at a time, from the tips of your toes to the top of your head. It's a great way to become more attuned to your physical presence and can also help you relax. You can do this when you wake up in the morning or before going to sleep.
Mindful eating: This involves paying full attention to the experience of eating, to the taste, smell, and texture of food, to the act of chewing and swallowing. You can practice this at one meal a day, or even just at the beginning of a meal.
Cultivate gratitude: Spend a few moments each day to appreciate the positive things in your life. This can be as simple as mentally noting three things you're grateful for each day.
The goal of all these practices is the same – to train your mind to stay in the present moment and to become more aware of your own experience, without judgment or immediate reaction. They're simple, but they can be quite powerful, especially if practiced consistently over time. Remember, mindfulness is like a muscle – the more you work it, the stronger it becomes.