Living in the Present: 13 Tips to Be in the Moment
“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift, which is why we call it the present.” - Bil Keane
You may have noticed there was no post last week. It was my birthday, so I decided to take a break from everything with no pressure and simply enjoy the day and do whatever felt best. It was the best birthday I’ve had in a long time.
Not only do I think it’s important to find time for yourself, but even more than that it’s important to live in the present. As birthday’s come and go, it’s easy to get caught up in thoughts about the past or the future. Things like worrying that you’re “running out of time” or that maybe haven’t accomplished “enough.” I don’t know about you, but it’s a nagging thought that always tends to creep into my head as another year passes.
So this led me down the rabbit hole of really thinking about what I want out of life…and ultimately landed on simply wanting to enjoy every day. I’ve heard that living in the past tends to cause depression because you’re reliving things you can’t change. Thinking only of the future can create worry, anxiety, and stress. But in the present moment, you have the most control and feel the most at ease. Happiness is all about your thoughts and attitude. Now I know it’s impossible to be 100% all the time because life happens! But If the key to being happy was purposefully living more in the present, wouldn’t you do it? I know I’m trying to! If you don’t feel very connected to your life right now, ask yourself, what would make you happy? What would make feel more alive? How could you live more in the present?
Here are some ideas…
Smile.
Appreciate what you have.
Forgive and let go.
Love what you do.
Set big dreams but celebrate the now.
Don’t dwell on things you can’t control.
Leave worry and stress in the past.
Come up with solutions, not problems.
Create positive habits, kick negative addictions.
Breathe.
Learn to accept.
Engage in life and be mindful.
Scan your body and give it what it needs, movement, meditations, fuel, etc.
Life isn’t easy but you may be able to love and enjoy it more by simply focusing on living in the present.
If you’d like a little science behind living in the moment, check out this video: