Do you remember the last time you felt fully engaged in the present moment? When nothing else existed besides you and what you were doing right in front of you? When you were in a lecture or a meeting and you were fully tuned in the whole time. When you were having a conversation with a friend and nothing else was on your mind besides you and your friend. Are you having a hard time thinking of it? Well, us too. It's hard to be fully present sometimes.
Mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of what we are and what we are doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us. In our generation, with the new age of technology and social media, this can get difficult.
We spend about 75% of our day thinking about anything other than the present moment! This can lead to anxiousness and feeling like life can be out of your control. Trust me, we've all been there. Staying in the present moment can allow you to appreciate the simple things in life. However, we understand that this is a lot easier said than done. So, what can you do to help yourself with this?
"The best preparation for the future is to live as if there were none" - Albert Einstein
To help you instill this into your everyday life, we came up with a few simple tips.
Five Simple Ways to Practice Mindfulness
Meditate in the Morning. Starting off the day with some intentional mindfulness is a great way to prepare for the business and stress of everyday life. Downloading a meditation app or even just following your breath for five minutes can be a great way to start being in the present moment.
Make Mealtimes Distraction-free. Eating without TV or another distraction allows you to focus on the food in front of you. By paying attention to what you’re eating, you can make sure you’re eating intuitively (e.g. not overeating to the point of discomfort). This may also allow you to enjoy the flavors in your food more!
Leave Your Phone in a Different Room. When spending time with friends, not having a phone at your fingertips can keep you focused on the now. It will also eliminate mindless checking to see if you have any notifications.
Focus on One Thing at a Time. Multitasking is not as easy as it may seem. Doing several things at once can often cause more errors and take longer than just doing each thing separately. Even though doing homework while watching a show sounds appealing, it’s probably better to just finish your assignments and then be able to completely relax in front of the TV afterward.
Head Outside. Going on a walk is a great way to get some exercise and be present. Try to look around as you walk. You may be surprised at the things that you see that you wouldn’t normally notice.
These are just a few tips and tricks to help you stay more present in life. Remember that only in the present moment can you achieve true happiness, peace, and joy.
So, how are you going to stay present in your life today?
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