Have you ever driven home and had no idea how you got there because you were so deep in thought? You literally think to yourself, “Did I just run every red light to get here?”
It’s honestly quite shocking when that happens, but it shows how easily the world (life in general) can pass by so quickly if you don’t pay attention.
That’s what living in the moment is: paying attention.
Paying attention to your present reality. Taking in what’s around you and appreciating the beauty of it. Observing all that goes on: your breath, the sensations on your skin, the smell in the air, the colors of the leaves, the way your dog twitches when he’s sleeping. There’s so much to observe.
All you have to do is open your eyes.
What keeps us from the present (mostly) is either staying stuck in the past, or worrying about the future. While there’s nothing wrong with that in the short term, if that’s all that’s consuming you, if that’s all you’re thinking about, it’s robbing you from enjoying your present reality.
No matter what you do, you cannot change the past, nor can you control the future, so why not choose to enjoy the present, instead?
Ways you can live in the moment:
- Go offline. If you normally scroll through social media while you’re eating a meal, taking a break, waiting for a flight, or worse, out with friends, put your phone down and experience the space you’re in. 📵
- Go for a walk. Again, no phone included. Just enjoy the beauty of nature around you, the different sounds, the different smells, hey maybe even the different tastes if you’re into foraging. 🚶♂️
- Change things up every so often. Naturally, we are habitual creatures and tend to get used to the daily routines we go through. If you normally take one route to work, find a different route for a day. If you typically go to the same bars every Friday night, explore a different town, instead. Be spontaneous! 🤪
- Journal. Write things down that you experience on a day to day basis, how you’re currently feeling, the most prevalent thoughts you had that day, etc. It helps you become more mindful of the happenings in your life and discover things you may not have noticed otherwise. 📝
- Do one thing at a time. Sometimes we pride ourselves in being able to do multiple things at once, but when you’re able to put full focus on one task at a time, you tend to accomplish more, enjoy what you’re doing, and become more efficient. 🔍
- Meditate. I know you knew this was coming, but honestly, meditation is a great way to bring your attention to the present moment. When you close your eyes and allow yourself to just breathe, it sharpens your awareness of what’s going on both externally and internally. 🙏
