Many of the more literate people out there will be familiar with the expostulation by a Buddhist monk–I’m pretty sure it was Thich Nhat Han (sp?)–to the effect of “when you do the dishes, do the dishes”. I’ve tried it, and couldn’t figure out what on earth he was talking about.
Here is a similar–perhaps the same, and I am just being retarded–idea: treat all tasks you do with affection. Do not force them. Do not resent them. Allow yourself to feel pleasure at all times and places. Normally, we have things we like to do, and things we don’t like to do. We transition from a state of contentment to a state of resentment, but this is not necessary.
It seems to me–on a superficial reading, not even being familiar with the actual Sanskrit word for mindfulness–that being aware, solely, is empty in a bad way. Moths are aware, and don’t think many thoughts. You have to consciously be looking for some desired state, and mindfulness is simply taking notice when you are drifting towards or away from that state.