Almost everyday I walk through Rockefeller Center and as the seasons change so does the scenery and decoration around the area. Just a few weeks ago it was full of bright colored flowers right in the peak of summer. Now as I pass, the flowers are more of a fall color scheme which immediately gave me a wave of panic that summer was soon coming an end. Although we still have a good chunk of the summer left, it made me think that I need to stop worrying so much about time elapsing and be better about living in the moment.
When I started this blog, one of the goals was to give me an outlet for creativity. In addition to that, it was to help me stop and capture moments, therefore allowing me to live more in the present. This is something that I am continually working on and probably always will have to but it is well worth the investment.
For a little over a year, I've made it a priority to actively work towards being more present. It is difficult as all of our lives we are conditioned to be looking forward and working towards something (whether it be goals or stages of life) but are never really taught how to completely make the most each moment. Specifically, with our generation and new technology it is hard to stay present more than ever. I hope that by sharing these methods I use, it can help you too!
METHODS TO STAYING PRESENT
1. Single-Task
Although multi-tasking is something I am very good at and is extremely beneficial with time management, it also takes away a good amount from the actions you are doing. It is impossible to be fully vested in multiple things at once, so...to be able to recognize when it is necessary to multi-task and when it is not is very important. A lot of times I find myself unnecessarily multi-tasking which only causes more stress. Prioritizing which tasks are the most important is the best way to determine which task should be done first followed by the others. Another good reminder to calm the mind is it isn't always necessary that everything has to be down NOW.
2. Conversate with those you come in contact with
This technique came about from me living about my daily life and realizing that when I fully acknowledged the presence of others that I was able to fully digest the moment and take it in. For example, whether it was saying "thank you" to a barista or "have a good day" to my doorman, these simple ways of connecting with someone made the present moment more meaningful and less "daily task" oriented. I was surprised to come to this realization but highly suggest trying! It will also brighten your mood!
3. Meditation
The obvious but one of the more important techniques of mindfulness. Meditation is statistically proven to help ease worries and keep one calm and present. I began meditating about a year and a half ago and I would say it has definitely helped create a calmer mind for me and to be able to cope better in stressful situations. It is definitely hard to do daily but I find when I am able to meditate more I am in an overall better state of mind and more present in the now. I suggest starting with guided meditations whether it be one of the apps (Calm or Headspace) or even a Youtube video.
4. Working out
Working out whether it be a light jog or an intense HIT class is very beneficial for helping stay present. The demand of your body to be exerting energy almost automatically forces your mind to focus on the task and hand and stay present. Although it is likely your mind will still wander off a little bit, it is usually drawn back to concentrate on the next movement. Emotionally, working out is just as good for me as physically and I'm sure many people can say the same!
My goal is to keep using these practices to work towards a more present me. I would love to hear some of your techniques you find useful to stay in the present as well!
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