We hear it all the time these days, learn to live in the moment and be more present. Mindfulness is more than just a trendy topic in the world of self-care. It’s something we hear about often because it really can be so beneficial to our health and wellbeing. Being mindful is something that I think we all long to do better. But it’s difficult. We live in a busy world and distractions are everywhere.
And for those of us who are deep thinkers, being mindful can be even more difficult, as we tend to live in our heads. I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve driven somewhere and when I got to my destination I couldn’t remember anything about the drive I just took. I struggle too when it comes to being mindful and present. But with practice, we can incorporate mindfulness into our days and bring more peace into our lives.
So what is mindfulness, exactly? It is the ability to focus your mind on the present moment. Often we get so caught up in the thoughts going through our heads that we don’t pay attention to what’s going on around us. We are so busy planning for the future or thinking about what’s happened in the past that we miss out on the gifts available to us in the present moment.
Mindfulness has been proven to reduce stress and anxiety and can even enhance creativity and focus. It’s been shown to contribute to an improved mood and increased concentration. Actively concentrating on the present moment can help you slow down and learn to appreciate life more.
I know that practicing mindfulness can be hard. Our world is full of distractions. But mindfulness helps us to develop a strong mental focus in the midst of these things. So how do we become more mindful in this hectic world we live in? Practice, practice, practice. Trying to incorporate some of the things below just might help you learn how to be a little more present in your everyday life.
Focus on your breathing.
Take five slow deep breaths in and five slow deep breaths out. Notice how your stomach or chest rises and falls. Be aware of the feeling of the air inside your nose. Notice if your body starts to relax while you take these deep breaths. Focus on how your body feels while doing this practice.
There are so many benefits to breath work and it’s both easy and free. Take advantage of this and try to come back to your breathing a few times a day.
Sit outside and focus on the sensations you feel.
Spend some time in nature and focus on your five senses. What do you see around you? What do you hear? Notice the birds chirping or the sound of the wind blowing through the trees. What do you feel? Can you feel the sun on your skin or the wind in your hair? What do you smell? Fresh cut grass or the aroma of flowers around you?
Taking time to connect with your senses and really notice what’s happening in the world around you is a wonderful way to practice mindfulness. It’s also very calming and a great thing to do if you’re feeling anxious.
Take a moment to pause before you do something.
Take time to breathe deep and appreciate your surroundings before you do something. Stop and take a deep breath when you first walk outside and notice the smell and feel of the fresh air.
Pause before you take your first sip of coffee and notice the fragrant aroma that makes you feel happy and comforted. Taking time to stop and appreciate the little things in life is a great way to be more mindful and enjoy life more fully.
Focus on one thing at a time.
To practice mindfulness, it’s important to focus your attention on one task at a time. For example, if you watch television while eating you’re likely missing out on all of the taste, textures, and aromas of the food you’re eating. Learn to fully appreciate each task you are doing in the moment. Give your full attention to what you’re doing when you’re doing it.
Listen more deeply.
We can practice being more mindful in our relationships by learning to listen wholeheartedly. The next time you’re having a conversation, give your full attention to the person that’s talking to you. Notice if your mind wanders to your own thoughts and come back to what the other person is saying. Try not to be distracted by your own thoughts or what’s going on around you. Being a more engaged listener can strengthen and improve our relationships.
Stop playing the “when” game.
“When I get a raise and have more money I’ll be able to travel and enjoy life.”
“When my kids are grown I’ll have time to relax and learn to meditate.”
“When I lose 20 lbs I’ll be happy with my body.”
Playing the “when” game is basically just living in the future. Setting goals is great, but when we stop fully living until we meet those goals, that’s when we cheat ourselves out of the possibility of finding joy in the present moment.
Things might be hard right now, but tomorrow is never promised. Learning how to find joy TODAY is so important. Try practicing gratitude for what you do have today and see how your perspective shifts. Counting our blessings and being thankful for what we have in the present moment is another way to be more mindful.
Learn to meditate.
Learning how to practice mindfulness meditation is one of the best ways to practice being more present. But starting your own meditation practice can seem daunting. You don’t have to do it for long though. Start with just 5 minutes a day. Find a quiet spot to dedicate to your meditation practice.
I recommend downloading a meditation app and searching for “mindfulness meditation” to get you started. My favorite is the Insight Timer app. A teacher will walk you through everything you need to do. You can also find mindfulness meditations on YouTube or read more about starting your own practice here.
Start small and just try to get in the habit of practicing every day. Even a few minutes of meditation is proven to be beneficial for the brain and soothing to the nervous system. Over time, you can start to dedicate more time to your practice.
Try to keep in mind that mindfulness is a journey, not a destination. It is something that we continually have to practice. An important theme in practicing mindfulness is non-judgment. Try not to be too hard on yourself. Your mind will wander during these practices and you will have to come back to the present moment. This is okay. Remember that you are human and this is natural. But if you can, try to remember the words of Jim Elliot:
“Where ever you are, be all there.”
Jim Elliot
May we learn to be more present in our lives and appreciate the here and now. Don’t waste your one precious life living on autopilot and just going through the motions. Or constantly living in your head, thinking about the past or future. When we really slow down and begin to practice mindfulness, we can start to see the gifts all around us in the present moment. And in the midst of trying times, we can rediscover our peace and find more joy in our everyday lives.
such a lovely post.
mindfulness is a critical factor to be present in our lives.
meditation is seriously a wonderful suggestion.
thanks for sharing this awesome post!
Thank you Hari!
Great post ! I often find that just being outside and getting some fresh air or being in the sun helps me a lot .
Yes, being out in nature is so helpful.
Some great points to note.
Nowadays I am trying to focus on only things at a time. It is my big problem that I always get diverted from one thing to another. Practicing hard.
I think as humans we all struggle with this. But being aware of it and trying to focus on one thing at a time is a great first step.
Love this! I definitely find practising mindfulness helps with my anxiety. I also feel like I play the ‘when’ game far too much sometimes, would like to change my mindset a little and try and live more in the present. I do find it peaceful to just stop and take my surroundings in sometimes, you definitely realise how much you miss when you’re mind is overflowing with so much other stuff! Great post xx
Thanks Chloe, glad this post resonated with you!
Love love love all these tips!! I especially find getting outside and into nature really helps ground me into the present. And focusing on one thing at a time is another great one, life can often feel overwhelming, especially when we’re trying to achieve big goals. Thanks so much for sharing ♡
Thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts!
Such a ‘mindful’ post. See what I did there?? Total dad joke! 😆 Seriously though, taking a timeout to just be present for a moment before moving on to my next task helps remind me of my blessings, and gets me through the daily pain I live with.
Great tips! I especially needed to hear the ‘when game.’ The struggle is real.
I’m with you, it’s a constant struggle!
Mindfulness is so important, these are really great tips, thank you!
Thank you for reading!
I love all of these ideas. Personally I find gardening to be a very good way to be mindful and focus on the moment. When I tend to my veggies and observe the cycle of life from seed to harvest, it brings me inner peace and perspective.
I love how gardening and observing the cycle of life helps you to be more present. I’m thinking of starting a vegetable garden next year. Thank you for sharing!
I love this. Thank you for the tips but it’s so true! We need to be more mindful in this life because it isn’t always going to be here.
You’re right! That’s why it’s so important to appreciate the present moment.
“Stop playing the ‘when’ game.” THIS!! This is so important and a great reminder. Thanks for sharing.
It’s something that I’m certainly guilty of doing. I’m glad this reminder helped you!
I have been doing mindfulness for a while now and find it beneficial and not because it became a popular trend. Mostly because it has been a huge part of helping me with mental illness symptoms. Thank you for sharing this post and giving some ideas for mindful practice it is really helpful.
Love how you wrote this out! Mindfulness is really key these days..
I notice such a huge difference when I’m not taking the time to be mindful..
These are great tips! I was so good at this when I was younger, but I’ve fallen out of the habit in recent years. This is the motivation I needed to get back at it!
Thanks for sharing ! I used to do the « when » game a lot few months ago. Then I decided that I had to focus on the present moment, I can be happy today, I can reach my goals today ! It has helped me a lot ever since.