6 Ways To Live in the Moment and Be More Present
Our fast-paced society and constant inundation of technology (especially social media) can make it difficult to take a moment to breath and truly be present. There are plenty of studies out there that show how being present increases our happiness and wellbeing, and let’s be honest, most of us know that practicing mindfulness is beneficial, but sometimes we need a gentle reminder to step away from our hectic schedules and actually do it.
A mega laundry list of how-to’s in itself can be a bit overwhelming, so we’re going to keep it simple and list six suggestions on how to be present that you can easily start implementing as soon as you’re done reading this quick blog post.
We hope these six suggestions inspire you to step away from whatever device you’re using to read this and live in this moment.
For those of you who want to read a bit more, we’ll leave some quotes below that we hope will inspire you to embrace the moment and start living your best present life today!
“Stop acting as if life is a rehearsal. Live this day as if it were your last. The past is over and gone. The future is not guaranteed.” — Wayne Dyer
“Life gives you plenty of time to do whatever you want to do if you stay in the present moment.” — Deepak Chopra
“Wherever you are be all there.” — Jim Elliot
“Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That is why it is called the present.” — Alice Morse Earle
“When you are here and now, sitting totally, not jumping ahead, the miracle has happened. To be in the moment is the miracle.” - Osho
A mega laundry list of how-to’s in itself can be a bit overwhelming, so we’re going to keep it simple and list six suggestions on how to be present that you can easily start implementing as soon as you’re done reading this quick blog post.
Take short breaks
Even on the busiest of days, carving out short breaks in your schedule is essential for your mental and physical health. Even a few five minute breaks throughout the day can do wonders to center you and help you feel refreshed. You could take a quick walk outside or around the house/office, do a five minute meditation, enjoy some uninterrupted moments with a cup of coffee or tea, or simply close your eyes and focus on your breathing.Become a monotasker
Multitasking has often been glorified and encouraged in society, especially in many workplaces, but the reality is that it’s far from ideal. According to studies, only 2.5% of the population can truly multitask at an optimum level, and other studies show that too much multitasking in general results in more distractions, chronic stress and anxiety. Monotasking will decrease your stress, increase productivity and make you more present. Triple win!Less screen time
This is a tough one, and we’re personally guilty of this at times ourselves. It’s tempting to pick up the phone “really quick” to check Instagram or TikTok…and then next thing you know, 30 minutes have flown by. If you find that phone or tablet too irresistible, one tip we have is to set limits on your devices. For example, iPhones have settings where you can set screen time limits which can lock apps when you’ve reached your time limit. Or even better: When you have downtime and you don’t actually need to check your phone, place it in a separate room so you can’t easily reach for it on autopilot.Practice mindful eating
Next time you sit down for a meal, skip the iPad or cellphone, sit down, and really enjoy your food. You’ll be amazed at home much better everything tastes. Mindful eating makes you more in tune with your body, so you’re less likely to overeat or undereat, which leads to improved digestion and an overall increased feeling of wellbeing.Write down your thoughts
Journaling can be a great way to help you reflect on the present and check in with yourself. If you’re not big on writing, there are great options out there like five-minute journals, which contain prompts for each day, such as daily gratitude and affirmations.Connect (or reconnect) with a friend or loved one
Human connection is so powerful and healing, and the past years have taught us more than ever how precious it is. Spend some quality time with a loved one or close friend who makes your heart feel full. Focus on being fully present. Really listen to them when they’re speaking.We hope these six suggestions inspire you to step away from whatever device you’re using to read this and live in this moment.
For those of you who want to read a bit more, we’ll leave some quotes below that we hope will inspire you to embrace the moment and start living your best present life today!
“Stop acting as if life is a rehearsal. Live this day as if it were your last. The past is over and gone. The future is not guaranteed.” — Wayne Dyer
“Life gives you plenty of time to do whatever you want to do if you stay in the present moment.” — Deepak Chopra
“Wherever you are be all there.” — Jim Elliot
“Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That is why it is called the present.” — Alice Morse Earle
“When you are here and now, sitting totally, not jumping ahead, the miracle has happened. To be in the moment is the miracle.” - Osho
