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You’ve probably heard about the many benefits associated with mindfulness and living in the present. When life is moving at a seemingly break-neck speed, being present allows us to still enjoy our lives to the fullest, without stressing out over what the future holds.
But for many of us, it’s a struggle to live in the present moment.
Whether it’s our demanding jobs, the stress of our personal lives, or the constant distractions we face on a daily basis, unplugging and living fully in the here and now seems almost impossible when we’re being pulled in nearly every direction.
Cultivating the awareness that it takes to live in the moment is a practice, and it takes time to fully implement into your daily routine.
Luckily, there are a few methods you can use to make this transition a little easier. Learn how to be more present in your life with these 6 techniques.
How to Be More Present In Your Life
1. Let go of all you cannot control. All too often we take on the worries of the world and make everyone else’s problems our own, which only further exacerbates our stress and inhibits our ability to live in the present. Try letting go of all these excess worries, and focus on what you can control instead. You’ll feel far more present when you’re not worrying about what you cannot control or straining to find out all the answers.
2. Listen more than you speak. When we’re listening to someone else speak, more often than not we’re formulating a response, which reduces our ability to fully listen and understand the other person. Essentially, we’re only half-heartedly listening because we’re thinking of what information or stories we have that we can add to the conversation. Instead, try listening to what others are actually saying and listen with curiosity. You don’t always have to add in your own opinion or have the last word. In fact, you’ll feel far more present if you just simply listen to what others saying.
3. Remove all unnecessary distractions. Most of us struggle to live in the present because we are continuously distracted. Think about it. How often do you begin a task only to be distracted by a text? A call? An email? Or a notification? Distractions like these have become normal to us, and have consequently compromised our ability to fully live in the present moment. Remove these distractions, or at the very least, reduce them significantly. Turn off notifications for your social media, disable your work email on your personal phone, or silence your phone when you need to focus. By disconnecting from these distractions, you’ll find it’s much easier to connect to the present.
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4. Focus on your senses. One way to be more present is to simply tune in to your senses. For example, what all can you hear in this very moment? Can you hear other people chatting? Can you hear the rain hitting the roof? A clock ticking? Tune into what you can see, hear, taste and feel.
5. Enjoy your rituals. Our lives are comprised of routines and rituals that we do every day. Maybe you like to sip your first coffee of the day outside on your porch. Maybe you like to read a book on your lunch break. Or maybe you unwind with a cup of tea at the end of the day. Whatever your ritual is, live for those rituals and savor the moments of peace and tranquility that they bring you.
6. Remove yourself from the digital space. Live less in the digital world and more in your present reality by cutting down on your media use. Whether it’s time spent surfing the net, using social media, or even working after hours at home, replace these digital activities with others. For instance, go on a walk. Meditate. Meet up with a friend. In essence, do something that doesn’t need WiFi or a power source.
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