Some people do have hard time living in the moment. Probably
because of some bad experience they had in the past or due to the fear of what
future holds for them. Sometimes our
thoughts are overwhelmed by regrets about past events or anxiety about the
future, which can make it hard to enjoy the present. If you are having a hard
time living in the moment, there are some simple strategies that may help.
There are little things that you can do throughout your day, such as creating a
mindfulness cue, learning to meditate, and performing random acts of kindness.
You have to develop an awareness that you have that you are in a particular and
that is all you got and you have to learn to make great reasonable because that
same moment will be passed and become past. Here are simple tips to make you
enjoy your moments;
Learn new things per time. While you might be
tempted to completely overhaul your lifestyle, it is not necessary to make big
changes to start living in the moment. Start by incorporating new habits one at
a time. Once you feel like you have mastered a habit, add something else.
- For example, instead of trying to meditate for 20 minutes per day right away, start by trying to meditate for three minutes per day. Then, increase your time as you become more comfortable with meditation.
- Walk to work with your phone in your pocket. Do not text or talk on the phone unless it is an emergency.
Notice sensory details about routine activities.
Learning to live in the moment can also be a part of your daily routine. You
can incorporate mindfulness into your daily routine by deliberately noticing
the sensory details of something that you are doing. Focus on the sight, sound,
smell, and feel of your daily activities.
- For example, the next time that you brush your teeth, notice the smell of your toothpaste, the sound of the brush against your teeth, and the way that it feels.
Control your mind when it wanders away.
It is normal for your mind to wander, but in order to live in the moment you
need to keep your mind focused on the present. When you notice that your mind
is wandering, use gentle redirection to focus on the present again. Acknowledge
that your mind is wandering without judging yourself for doing so.
- Don't get upset at yourself if your mind wanders. It is normal for your mind to wander sometimes. Just accept that you took a little mental vacation and return your focus to the present.
Choose a mindfulness cue. It may be difficult
to remember to be mindful when you are very busy. A mindfulness cue, such as a
string tied around your wrist, a pen mark on your hand, or a coin in your shoe
can help you to remember to be mindful. When you notice the cue, make sure that
you take a moment to stop and notice your surroundings.
- You can also use something more external like making a cup of tea, looking in the mirror, or removing your shoes after work as your cue.
- After a while, you may begin to ignore the cue because you are used to it. If this happens, change your cue to something else.
Change a routine. You may not be
living in the moment because you are too set in your routine. One way that you
can become more aware is to change up your routine. You can do something as
simple as changing the way that you drive to work, altering the way you
introduce yourself, or tweaking a favorite story. Making a small change to one
of your routines may be enough to make you more aware of your surroundings.
- Try taking a different route for your evening walk or add a new ritual to your bedtime routine.
Learn how to meditate.
Meditation is a great way to train your brain to live in the moment. As you
meditate, you practice noticing your thoughts and simply watching as they go
by. Learning to meditate takes time, practice, and guidance, so your best bet
is to find a meditation class in your area. If no classes are available in your
area, you can also buy CDs that will help you learn how to meditate.
- To get started with meditation, find a quiet spot and get comfortable. You can either sit in a chair or on a cushion on the floor with your legs crossed. Close your eyes and concentrate on your breathing. As you focus on your breathing, try not to get distracted by your thoughts. Just let them happen and pass by.
- Without opening your eyes, observe the world around you. Pay attention to how you feel as well. What do you hear? What do you smell? How do you feel? Physically and emotionally.
- Set a gentle timer on your phone so that you know when to stop. You may want to start by meditating for 5 minutes and build up from there.
- Make sure the people you live with know that you will be meditating and ask them not to disturb you.
Smile and laugh more often. Living in the moment can
be a challenge if you are in a bad mood or just feeling a little down, but
smiling and laughing can make you feel better even you force yourself to smile
and laugh. If you find that you are not focused on the present because you feel
unhappy, force yourself to smile and laugh a bit. Even if you put on a fake
smile and laugh in a goofy way, you should start to feel better right away.
Motivational
