user10950: When I am practicing being mindful, for example when washing the dishes, there seems to be so many things going on at once that I kind of don't know what to focus on. There is the warmth of the water, the smell of the detergent, the sound of the water and sounds all around, sights out the window etc etc. I have this problem in general with mindfulness. Feels like many things pulling my attention in all different directions. Can someone please clarify for me how I should be doing this correctly because I feel confused about it.

user10293: You said "so many things going on at once". Please don't confuse what to do. Only to note mindfully what is most distinct once at a time. Nature of mind can focus only one phenomenon at one moment. For example, if you feel cold with water, just note "cold". It is enough. Without any frustration to note all other things like in wide and spread noting which you will get it automatically at higher nana stage with better concentration. Not to miss noting the single phenomenon is more important than noting nothing which will lead to delusion. But to achieve in every day chore mindfulness, you must have enough Samadhi through your sitting meditation sometimes it works better but depend on the individual.

user11224: Perhaps it is enough just to be joyfully aware of washing the dishes. Not to wander to work, to the past, to the future. Just that is radically different than the way our minds usually work...
Thich Nhat Hanh on mindfulness and happiness 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iLHm7LixaM

user8157: Most Buddhist meditation taught in the world is from an incorrect interpretation of suttas, which results in the mind being too busy, rigid & controlling. 
'Mindfulness' means 'to remember'. It does not mean 'awareness', 'observation' or 'attention'. 
'Mindfulness' remembers to keep the Dhamma in mind, which is the Four Noble Truths & the Noble Eightfold Path, or, in brief, mindfulness remembers to keep the mind free from craving.
For example, the instruction posted in another post should practically read as follows: 

And what, bhikkhus, is right mindfulness? Here, bhikkhus, a monk dwells observing the body in the body by being exertive, clearly knowing & mindful to remove covetousness and displeasure in relation the world 

Therefore, when you are washing the dishes, the practise of mindfulness is to wash the dishes without craving, i.e., without greed (impatience), hatred (aversion) & delusion (self-views). 
When this right mindfulness (remembering) is practised, the observation will occur automatically. 

It is important to recognise the mind is always aware or conscious of some object. So when dishes are washed with a silent craving-free mindful mind, awareness of what is going on (such as the warmth of the water, the smell of the detergent, the sound of the water and sounds all around) will still occur. There is no need to make a special effort to be aware of these things. The only effort that needs to be done with right mindfulness is keeping the mind free from greed, hatred & delusion. 

MN 117 states: 

One makes an effort for the abandoning of wrong view & for entering into right view: This is one's right effort. One is mindful to abandon
  wrong view & to enter & remain in right view: This is one's right
  mindfulness. Thus these three qualities — right view, right effort &
  right mindfulness — run & circle around right view.


10950: <p>When I am practicing being mindful, for example when washing the dishes, there seems to be so many things going on at once that I kind of don't know what to focus on. There is the warmth of the water, the smell of the detergent, the sound of the water and sounds all around, sights out the window etc etc. I have this problem in general with mindfulness. Feels like many things pulling my attention in all different directions. Can someone please clarify for me how I should be doing this correctly because I feel confused about it.</p>
 10293: <p>You said "so many things going on at once". Please don't confuse what to do. Only to note mindfully what is most distinct once at a time. Nature of mind can focus only one phenomenon at one moment. For example, if you feel cold with water, just note "cold". It is enough. Without any frustration to note all other things like in wide and spread noting which you will get it automatically at higher nana stage with better concentration. Not to miss noting the single phenomenon is more important than noting nothing which will lead to delusion. But to achieve in every day chore mindfulness, you must have enough Samadhi through your sitting meditation sometimes it works better but depend on the individual.</p>
 11224: <p>Perhaps it is enough just to be joyfully aware of washing the dishes. Not to wander to work, to the past, to the future. Just that is radically different than the way our minds usually work...</p>

<p>Thich Nhat Hanh on mindfulness and happiness </p>

<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iLHm7LixaM" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iLHm7LixaM</a></p>
 8157: <p>Most Buddhist meditation taught in the world is from an incorrect interpretation of suttas, which results in the mind being too busy, rigid &amp; controlling. </p>

<p>'Mindfulness' means 'to remember'. It does not mean 'awareness', 'observation' or 'attention'. </p>

<p>'Mindfulness' remembers to keep the Dhamma in mind, which is the Four Noble Truths &amp; the Noble Eightfold Path, or, in brief, mindfulness remembers to keep the mind free from craving.</p>

<p>For example, the instruction posted in another post should practically read as follows: </p>

<blockquote>
  <p><em>And what, bhikkhus, is right mindfulness? Here, bhikkhus, a monk dwells observing the body in the body by <strong>being exertive, clearly knowing &amp;</strong> <strong>mindful to remove covetousness and displeasure</strong> in relation the world</em> </p>
</blockquote>

<p>Therefore, when you are washing the dishes, the practise of mindfulness is to wash the dishes without craving, i.e., without greed (impatience), hatred (aversion) &amp; delusion (self-views). </p>

<p>When this right mindfulness (remembering) is practised, the observation will occur automatically. </p>

<hr>

<p>It is important to recognise the mind is always aware or conscious of some object. So when dishes are washed with a silent craving-free mindful mind, awareness of what is going on (such as the warmth of the water, the smell of the detergent, the sound of the water and sounds all around) will still occur. There is no need to make a special effort to be aware of these things. The only effort that needs to be done with right mindfulness is keeping the mind free from greed, hatred &amp; delusion. </p>

<hr>

<p><a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.117.than.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">MN 117</a> states: </p>

<blockquote>
  <p><em>One makes an effort for the abandoning of wrong view &amp; for entering into right view: This is one's right effort. One is mindful to abandon
  wrong view &amp; to <strong>enter &amp; remain in right view: This is one's right
  mindfulness</strong>. Thus these three qualities — right view, right effort &amp;
  right mindfulness — run &amp; circle around right view.</em></p>
</blockquote>
