When I took a walk the other day, I started thinking about what I was going to do when I got home and I realized that when I start thinking about what I'm going to do later, I'm not living here and now in the present moment. Thinking ahead is the same as thinking about the past. However, I think it's good to reflect on the past in order to improve and I think it's good to think about the future to be able to set goals for ourselves, but right then and there on the walk with my dogs, I missed a lot when I thought on all the chores waiting for me at home. I needed to be there in the present moment to be able to enjoy life right then and there.
I think that's how our society has been shaped, that we often sit with the phone and miss the here and now. Guess how many parents I've seen sitting with their mobile phones while the children are bathing and playing. I think most of us are scrolling on our phones and actually experiencing other people's lives instead of living our own. If you learn something from it, I see no problem with it, but it is the eternal scrolling that has become a problem in society. Time goes by so fast when you sit in front of the computer or phone and just look at sick things other people are doing.
I realized how much I miss out on life here and now when I think about something other than what I'm doing right now. Multitasking is not always as effective as we want to think, as stress that often arises from too much at the same time leads to us actually doing things more slowly and not as efficiently.
Have you ever thought about how much you actually miss when you don't live in the present moment?
So how should one go about starting to live here and now?
- Meditate and take deep breaths, it's an excellent way to improve your present moment and learn to focus on one thing at a time.
- Spend more time in nature and really take in the beautiful nature has to offer.
- Stop and let the sun hit your face and just enjoy it.
- Write down your thoughts to clear your mind. An overcrowded brain makes it hard to focus, so taking notes and getting everything out on paper is a great way to free up space for other things.
- Spend your time and energy on things and people that mean a lot to you.
- Focus more on your own life than on other people's lives, on people you don't even know. That being said, look at your phone to learn not to pass the time.
- Do your best every day to grow as a person, learn new things and to just be you.
- Give more love before it's too late.
- Enjoy the food you eat instead of stressing about the food.
Every small step we take in the right direction moves us forward to a life where we can live here and now and I wish you all the best.
Best regards