Today I Choose to be Aware: Real-Life Strategies That Wor…

August 4, 2025

Learning how to be aware becomes a fascinating journey when you understand the science behind it. Recent research from Harvard Medical School shows that women over 50 who practice awareness techniques experience a 40% improvement in cognitive function.

I’ve tried them all. Body scanning. Every type of breathing known to mankind. I even “So Hummed” for hours on end. (That’s “I am” in Sanskrit, which seemed deeply powerful at the time, despite the fact that I don’t speak Sanskrit. I mean, come on – Sanskrit!)

But here’s what actually worked: slowing down and paying attention. Revolutionary, I know.

The Difference Between Awake and Aware

To me, aware is somewhere between mindful and awake. Awake is a feeling of connection – a glimmer you catch from the corner of your eye, a moment when you just understand. Aware is a place you can spend more time in. It’s plugged in, paying attention, collecting far more data than we usually do.

It’s the opposite of getting in your car and suddenly arriving at your destination with no memory of the drive.

When Awareness Literally Saves Lives

Curtis was in the hospital, pre-ICU. I was there 12+ hours daily, not just visiting but gathering data. While nurses and doctors switched shifts, I remained constant, tracking patterns. I knew his white blood cell count was rising. His kidney numbers worsening.

Tuesday afternoon, he had a great visit with his mom, cousin, and aunt. By Tuesday evening, he was disoriented, not making sense. That shift, combined with the lab trends, made me text his surgeon: “Something is really wrong.”

That text got Curtis into the ICU. That awareness – actually watching, actually tracking, not just being present – saved his life.

The Neuroscience Backs This Up

Dr. Sara Lazar’s research at Massachusetts General Hospital demonstrates that regular awareness practices increase gray matter density in areas associated with learning, memory, and emotional regulation. But here’s what the studies don’t tell you: it’s not about the Sanskrit. It’s about actually paying attention.

The Heart-Rending Cost of Unawareness

Tyler was talking. I was typing, multitasking, nodding. I didn’t turn my chair. He left the room. Thirty minutes later — that sick, quiet thud in my chest. He was trying to tell me he was struggling. And I missed it.

Now, when Curtis or Tyler speaks, I stop. I turn. I listen. Because awareness isn’t just presence — it’s witnessing. And sometimes, it arrives late. But I won’t let it pass me again.

The Dog Walk Revelation

I’ve walked the same route since 1996, usually in a fog of thought, on the phone, listening to audiobooks, or learning Spanish on the Michel Thomas app while ignoring the Spanish-speaking neighbors I never greet.. But the times I walk aware?

I notice:

How lovely this neighbor’s garden is
How you can see the leaf veins when sunshine backlights them
How much taller that tree has grown
How the neighbor’s daughter has grown (wasn’t she just a toddler yesterday?)
How rain runoff creates a veritable stream with detritus floating down, little eddies swirling
→ Today I Choose to be Insightful

This is awareness: seeing what was always there.

From 40 to 60: The Awareness Evolution

At 40, I had no idea I wasn’t aware. I was just plugging along, being a workaholic. I have emails from a decade ago. Sometimes I’ll search something and find a project that once took 12-hour days… and meant nothing. I’d forgotten it entirely.

Now at 60, I’m more cognizant of when I’m NOT being aware. I can pull myself back more quickly. I take quick moments during the day to stop, breathe, and notice. I unitask more often so I can sit with the task and give it my full attention.

The Stephanie Signal

This weekend at a barbecue, I walked in and gave warm hugs to my friends Stephanie and Deb. Stephanie is usually larger than life, a force. But that night, she seemed smaller, like she’d shrunk in on herself.

I quietly asked if she was okay. She wasn’t. Deb missed this entirely and made a joke that fell short, ending with Stephanie in tears. Being aware allowed me to smooth things over.

That’s awareness in action: noticing when a force of nature has diminished.

Evidence-Based Strategies That Actually Work

Forget the Sanskrit (unless you speak it). Here’s what research shows actually builds awareness:

1. The Data Detective Method Track patterns like I did with Curtis’s labs. Whether it’s health metrics, mood patterns, or energy levels, consistent observation reveals critical trends.

2. The Chair Turn Technique Create physical cues for mental shifts. Turning your chair isn’t just polite – it’s neurologically significant. Physical movement triggers attention networks.

3. The Daily Discovery Walk Same route, new eyes. Research shows familiar environments viewed with fresh attention activate different brain regions than autopilot mode.

4. The 30-Minute Rule Sometimes awareness is delayed. If something feels “off” about a conversation, give your subconscious 30 minutes to deliver the message. Studies show our brains continue processing information subconsciously.

Your Awareness Action Plan

Week 1: Establish Your Baseline

Track when you’re aware vs. autopilot
Notice what pulls you out (doom scrolling, rushing, multitasking)
Note what brings you back
→ Today I Choose to be Insightful

Week 2: Create Physical Anchors

Develop your “chair turn” equivalent
Set awareness reminders (not for So Hum, for actual attention)
Practice one fully aware walk
→ Today I Choose to be Insightful

Week 3: Become a Data Detective

Track something that matters (mood, energy, relationships)
Look for patterns others might miss
Trust your observations
→ Today I Choose to be Insightful

Week 4: Trust Delayed Awareness

Notice when your subconscious delivers delayed messages
Honor that 30-minute processing time
Act on what surfaces
→ Today I Choose to be Insightful

The Truth About Awareness After 50

Research shows that women over 50 who maintain high awareness experience better sleep, reduced inflammation, and stronger immune function. But here’s what I’ve learned: awareness isn’t about hours of Sanskrit chanting. It’s about:

Watching lab values when everyone else assumes things are fine
Turning your chair when your son needs to talk
Noticing when sunshine backlights a leaf you’ve passed for decades
Sensing when a force of nature has shrunk in on herself
→ Today I Choose to be Insightful

At 60, I’m more aware of my unawareness. I catch myself faster. I turn my chair more often. I see the neighbor’s daughter growing up instead of just passing by.

And yes, I spent hours convinced that repeating “I am” in a language I don’t speak would transform me. Turns out, actually paying attention in the language I do speak works better.

Who knew? (Besides everyone who wasn’t lost in Sanskrit delusions.)

Join our community of women who’ve tried every awareness technique and discovered that actually paying attention beats ancient languages we don’t speak. Share your most ridiculous awareness attempt or your most powerful awareness save below.

P.S. If you’re So Humming right now, maybe just… turn your chair and listen instead?