Quick Tricks To Get More Present
One of the keys to relieving your stress – and relieving the symptoms or ailments that come from that stress – is being present in the moments of your life, rather than living in the past or worrying about the future.
But how do you get there? We live in a distracted world, so becoming more present starts with removing the roadblocks to this kind of peace and power, like technology. The tips below are a few quick tricks to put you back in a place of peace and presence in your day to day life.
Put Your Phone Down
When was the last time you had to wait somewhere and didn’t look at your phone? Probably never. Checking our phones has become a default reaction the second we find ourselves waiting in line, at a doctor’s office, or on a train. Occasionally passing the time by catching up with emails and friends is fine, but take a moment to reconsider how you spend these idle moments. The next time you feel your fingers twitching and aching for your phone, stop! Take this time instead to soak in the world around you.
Resist The Urge To Record Everything
It’s tempting to snap a pic of every waking moment of your day, from the beautiful breakfast you just made to the particularly lovely sunset at night. But when was the last time you ever actually looked at these miscellaneous photos? Be more choosy with your photographing, because you shouldn’t be living vicariously through your phone’s screen. For example, I used to spend my whole time at a concert trying to get an awesome shot, but ended up with a bunch of blurry photos of very tiny people. Totally not worth missing the whole concert. So instead of wasting the moment, focus on capturing unique occasions, such as your vacation or birthday party, and leave the rest to history.
Be Aware Of Your Surroundings
The next time you find yourself worrying about the future or zeroing in on the past, take a deep breath and bring yourself back to the present. Notice the sounds around you, the scent in the air, the other people on the street, and really “be” in the moment (even if that scent in the air is the smell of the subway). I’ve found that whenever I have to sit somewhere for a while (especially while driving) my thoughts can easily spiral out of control into worry-land. But if I take the time to remember where I am, and focus in on my surroundings, I can feel much more calm.
– via www.bustle.com
Tackle Stress By Being Present – No Matter The Circumstances
Often we don’t realize just how stressed or overdone we are because we’re too busy to notice. And there’s no doubt – a busy life with tons of details is pretty much unavoidable for most people.
But do all those requirements on your time and attention mean that you have to live in a constant state of panic and frenzy? No! There are tools you can use to be present and centered, even if you spend your day multitasking.
Break from the madness.
Studies have shown that taking a short break between tasks helps the mind recharge and refocus.
Zen teacher, CEO, and author Marc Lesser has this advice for how to integrate breaks to reduce stress and a speeding mind. The first is to “rest mentally and physically in between or outside of your usual activities, perhaps instituting a regular practice of meditation, retreats, breaks, and reflection. In the midst of a busy life, a full work day, go for a walk, do yoga, read some poetry.”
If yoga or poetry isn’t your bag, Lesser suggests taking a few moments to breathe deeply and reflect. Anyone can do this without leaving their desk.
Schedule important discussions without a hard stop.
When we’re in back-to-back meetings, it’s difficult to be present because we’re also thinking of what happened before and what’s next. For important discussions, leave room for the conversation. Make sure to structure a situation where you can both focus on what the other has to say, perhaps even out of the office. This also means not having a hard stop or starting a conversation at the end of the day.
Consider (and verbalize) what you’re saying no to.
For everything we say yes to, we’re saying no to something else. When you reflect on that and verbalize it, the decision is much easier. i.e. “I’m saying no to my kids so I can respond to a non-urgent email” or “I’m saying no to planning this pivotal project so I can say yes to surfing Twitter.” When you put it out there, the distinction often makes the real choice laughable. What’s taking away our full and focused presence doesn’t deserve it at all.
– via Forbes
How do you keep yourself present throughout your day?