By Damilola Adeleke
Many people want to learn more about how to live in the moment. Most of us have a tendency to live in the past or the future. How often do you find yourself thinking about what happened yesterday, or what might happen tomorrow? How does this affect your life and well-being?
Constantly thinking about the past and worrying about the future can make it difficult to enjoy the good things in your life now. Learning how to be more mindful and live in the moment can give you a greater appreciation for your life, also reducing feelings of stress, depression, and anxiety.
Here are a few ways to live in the moment more frequently.
Notice Your Surroundings
One way to be in the present moment is by noticing your surroundings. How often do you take time out of your day to actually look around and see what’s going on? When was the last time you sat down, took a deep breath, and just looked at everything around you?
Take this opportunity right now. Close both eyes and take a deep breath, then open them and really take in where you are.
How do the walls look?
What about the floor or ceiling—what patterns can you see?
How many windows are there to your left and right?
How many lights can you count from here?
When you stop to look at your surroundings and take in everything around you, it’s easier to be more present in the moment.
Focus on One Thing at a Time
When learning how to live in the moment, it is helpful to focus your attention on one thing at a time. While it may feel more productive to multitask and work on more than one thing at a time, constantly juggling multiple tasks makes it hard to live in the present.
Although doing something that requires your full attention can seem overwhelming at first, be aware of how much more productive you are when fully engaged in a task. Compare this with trying to squeeze multiple things into one period of time or spending half of your energy on three different projects.
If you’re working on something, give it all of your attention. When you find yourself thinking about other things or checking your phone because you don’t feel like doing the task at hand, stop and turn the focus back to what’s in front of you.
https://www.calm.com/blog/how-to-be-more-present
Research shows that when you are fully focused on what’s happening at that moment, you can better remember details in the long term anyway.
Be Grateful For What You Have Now
Part of living in the moment is taking the time to be grateful for what you have now (not in the past or the future).
If you are constantly focused on things you don’t have, you aren’t taking the time to appreciate what you have at this moment.
One way to practice gratitude is to write a list of things you are grateful for and review that list on a daily basis. Try to write at least three things you are grateful for in your life right now. Alternatively, you can do a gratitude rampage, where you write out as many things as you can think of in a certain time period.
Show Acceptance
If you want to learn how to be more present, let go of how you think things should be and accept them for what they are. Focus on accepting things as they are and not on how you want them to be.
You cannot control everything that happens around you; sometimes life is going to be different than how you want it to be. Practicing acceptance will help you let go of the things in your life that are out of your control.
Practice Mindfulness Meditation
Another way to live in the moment is by practicing mindfulness meditation.4 This type of meditation helps people become aware and increase their concentration on what they are doing at any given time.
Starting a daily meditation practice can help you become more aware of your thoughts and feelings. This can, in turn, increase the amount of time you spend in the present moment.
Find Positive Social Support
The kind of social support you have in your life can also play an important role in helping you learn how to live in the moment. When you are around people who are supportive and positive, it is much easier to be more present in your life.
Adeleke Damilola (ACTION) is a versatile content writer with expertise in news writing and a seasoned media professional and broadcast specialist. Currently serving as News Editor for DNews Info, Damilola is also the CEO of the ACTION brand, committed to shaping lives and establishing a legacy of excellence for present and future generations.
