How to be more present
Why live in your head when you can be present?
So what?
ICYMI – Do you frequently find your mind wandering? Being present is becoming more difficult in our busy world. Our schedule is getting fuller and endless amounts of notifications are always waiting for us on our phones. It’s even more important now that we make a conscious effort to be present and practice mindfulness. Benefits of being present include:
- Focusing your energy on the task you’re performing;
- Enjoying the activity being undertaken;
- Having a greater sense of purpose;
- Connecting with your loved ones; and
- Finding joy in your mundane life.
Quality time
Spending quality time with your loved ones or other people in your life who bring you joy and happiness is a great way for you to live in the now. You and your companion’s positivity levels will increase and help you digress from regrets of the past and worries about the future when you surround yourself with those you enjoy being around. You will turn your focus onto what is going on right now. Quality time can be anything from sitting on the couch enjoying each other’s presents whilst drinking a cuppa or partaking in axe throwing.
Hobby
Similar to surrounding yourself with those you love, you will be in the moment when you spend quality time participating in activities that you enjoy such as your hobby. This is a great way to take a break from technology (unless your hobby involves it). Actively doing what you enjoy will create a calm, focused environment whereby you will be focused on the task at hand and not be distracted from everything that is happening in your life. All worries, discomfort and distractions will dissipate as your mind focuses on what you’re doing.
My experience
“Time flies when you’re having fun”, my 8 year old daughter said to me the other day after a morning of lazying around and doing nothing. As a family of 5 (including our 2 year old pup), we are a bunch that loves to keep busy. Juggling between all the things that we do takes most of our days away during the school terms. Despite all we do, we always find time to just relax and enjoy each other’s presents even for a few minutes a day. In this instance, it was a couple of hours during school holidays that we had nothing planned which we used to do absolutely nothing but congregate on our 3 person couch. We just spent time having small talks, making fun of each other, dozing off time to time and enjoying the sun shining on our faces. There was no worry or distraction and we were just being, being in the moment.
What now?
- Do you often take time to spend time with your loved ones? How does it make you feel when you do? Does it calm you down and bring positivity?
- Do you have any hobbies that you enjoy doing? What’s involved in partaking in your hobbies? Have a think about how doing what you love makes you feel compared to doing what you dislike or despise.