We are living in a time where, day by day, it seems that there is always something to worry about or something new that we need to do or see. The constant pressures of life have created some concerning statistics, with around every 1 in 13 people worldwide suffering from anxiety. Many of us feel that life is spiraling around us, and we’re all guilty of forgetting the present and giving thought to what has already happened or what will. This creates difficulty in focusing on what is going on right now. Staying present requires personal skills that you can teach and learn yourself – and we’re here to help you. Here are our top tips to help you learn to live more in the moment.
Work on a single task
We are often working on or thinking about several things at one time, this creates anxiety in our body and causes our minds to spin – thus creating worry that we’re not going to have the time to complete the things we need too. However hard it may be to understand and get used to, you can, in fact, slow down and it will still all be ok – this is an essential step to remaining present. Understand what you need to achieve during the day, being fair and realistic with yourself, and tackle each task, one at a time. Multi-tasking is great, but it doesn’t necessarily look after you!
Many of us feel like we are constantly running out of time and even though we feel like we are running at light speed, are we really moving any quicker? Probably not, and if you are, you’re probably not making up too much time. Being present requires you to slow down! Take a big breath and do what you need to in a calm and relaxed pace – feel your heart settle and know that this way, your brain functions much better.
Remind yourself what you are doing
Because we are continually thinking about the next thing we have to do, we completely forget to take in what we are currently doing. This can affect the outcome on the very thing we are currently doing. An excellent way to stop your mind from wandering back and forth is to remind yourself exactly what you are doing.
Don’t be scared to tell yourself: ‘now I am’ – even for the simpler things like brushing your teeth, repeat out loud or to yourself, “I am brushing my teeth” – apply this to anything that you are doing, taking three deep breaths before (and after if you need).
Yesterday’s the past, tomorrow’s the future, but today is a gift. That’s why it’s called the PRESENT” – Bil Keane