5 simple ways to become more present in everyday life

Where’s your mind at?

Are you in the past? Feelings of regret, anxiety, or even depression? Or are you in the future, so focused on what you wish will be, you aren’t fully enjoying the present -the only place life is actually happening.

 

Here are 5 simple ways to become more present in everyday life.

1. Reset:

Sometimes when my thoughts wander and I feel my thoughts are stuck in a Paris roundabout, I imagine a huge reset button. I take a deep breath and as I breathe out I press it with intention. Et voilà!

2. Enjoy eating and drinking:

Smell and make sure you really taste the flavors and textures of your lunch. Food can be so much more than fuel. And what about that first-morning tea or coffee? Happiness in a cup.

3. Date yourself:

Take interest in your thoughts and really listen to them, as you (hopefully) would with a friend or a date.

4. Practice doing nothing:

We're so bad at doing nothing because in our pushing, strong and fast "yang culture" we build our sense of worthyness on the things we do. However, we need the balance between stillness and full force - to avoid depression, burn-out, and anxiety.

Classic meditation is scientifically proven to help. And as little as 3 minutes of conscious breathing makes us more resilient and creative.

Start by placing an anchor to something like your breath or a sound, or you can sit and gaze into a candle, for some real shaman ritual feels. Just keep the focus on that one thing and let your thoughts flow. When your mind wanders (which is totally normal) just return to your anchor. 

5. Try to look at things with the eyes of a child.

See things new. Feel them. There is so much to explore right in front of you.