"Live in the moment!"
We have heard people say this countless times. But what exactly does it mean to "live in the moment"? And why is it important?
To "live in the moment" means to be fully present and engaged in the present moment without dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. It involves focusing your attention on the here and now, and being fully aware of your thoughts, feelings, and surroundings.
Is it truly possible to stop worrying when there is just so much to worry about? With a few simple shifts in your life and picking up small habits, it is most certainly possible. Read on to find out more!
Why Should You Learn To Live In The Moment?
Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash
Living in the moment can be a powerful tool for reducing stress and anxiety, and increasing overall well-being. It can help you to appreciate the small things in life, and to fully savor the experiences that you are having. Rather than getting lost in worries about the future or regrets about the past, living in the moment allows you to fully engage with the present, and to find joy and fulfillment in the simple pleasures of life.
When you are fully present in the moment, you are not worrying about the past or future, which can reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. It can also help you to become more aware of your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, which can be a powerful tool for personal growth and development. Together with that, when you focus your attention on the present moment, you can improve your concentration and productivity, and get more done in less time.
Living in the moment is not only an individual pursuit, but it can also improve your relationships. When you are fully present with others, you are better able to connect with them and build stronger relationships.
6 Tips To Help You Live In The Moment
1. Declutter your life; physically and mentally.
Decluttering helps you to get rid of any old attachments that no longer add value to your life, and start focusing more on the present.
But we're not just talking about Marie Kondo-ing your physical belongings — it refers to cleaning out all aspects of your life.
Donate or upcycle old clothes you no longer wear, tidy up your workspace, look through your belongings and get rid of anything that no longer adds value to your life. This includes old screenshots and files on your digital devices, unfollowing accounts on social media that no longer make you happy and clearing out old contacts from your phone.
2. Pay attention to the smaller things in life.
Photo by Gabrielle Henderson on Unsplash
Take a step back from everything for a moment, and look around you. Pay attention to the small things: the smell of the air you're breathing in, the clothes that you're wearing, the sun or the moon up in the sky. Take a moment to fully engage your senses by noticing the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and sensations around you. This can help you to be fully present in the moment and appreciate the world around you.
You can also take notice of the smaller things in life by practicing gratitude. Starting a gratitude journal is a great way to get into the practice of noticing the smaller joys in life. The key is to write down 1 to 3 things you're grateful for everyday, and this forces you to look around you to notice things to be grateful for. With some practice, this habit will come naturally to you.
3. Focus on solutions, not problems.
When problems come your way, it's natural to start worrying. However, instead of letting yourself go into a spiral of worrying, try to channel that energy into coming up with solutions instead.
Next time you face a problem that is taking up space in your mind, try to brainstorm some solutions instead of worrying. It may even help to write down your stream of consciousness, so that you're better able to focus. This will not only stop yourself from worrying too much, but this will also prepare you to take action and solve the problem as quickly as possible.
4. Dream about the future and work hard today.
Photo by Randy Tarampi on Unsplash
Don't be mistaken; living in the moment doesn't mean that you shouldn't make plans or ambitions for the future. However, dreaming about the future is only productive when you're taking steps to achieving your dreams.
That is when living in the moment helps. It means that you are able to look towards the future, while simultaneously focusing on bettering yourself in the present to accomplish your dreams.
5. Forgive yourself and others
“You can't go back to how things were. How you thought they were. All you really have is...now.” ― Jay Asher
Are you still beating yourself up for past mistakes? Do you still hold onto past grudges with other people? Well, let this be a sign for you to start letting go and start forgiving.
You can no longer control what has happened in the past. You can, however, control how you react to it now! Right here, right now, you can stop letting these past events hurt and impact you.
6. Love what you do
“The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.” ― Eleanor Roosevelt
A full-time job will take up majority of your time and life. If you're working from Monday to Friday, that's 71% of your life taken up by work ― which is why it's important that you enjoy what you do. If you're living every work day feeling miserable or burnt-out and only looking forward to the weekends, that's not what living life should be.
Maybe you need to find and work your passion, change your mindset towards work or develop a better work-life balance. Whatever it is, you should look for ways to start enjoying what you do for a living.
By living in the moment, you can learn to appreciate the simple pleasures in life and find joy in everyday experiences. Every day is a precious gift from the universe to us, and we hope that you can grow to appreciate the present and live in the moment.
Sending love!