It can be frustrating when you find yourself unable to be in the present moment. Your mind is often elsewhere, which means you miss what’s happening around you. And it also becomes difficult to focus on what you’re doing. As a result, vital moments meant to become lasting memories pass you by. Although it may feel like there isn’t a way to overcome not being present, there, in fact, are several.
The breath is a powerful anchor. It draws you out of your head and helps you notice what’s happening around you. That’s why some people do breathing exercises to remind them to be present. Journaling is another way to remain rooted in the present. Simply noting down what you’re grateful for keeps you focused on the present moment.
Learning to be present can feel like an impossible feat. However, once you know how to do it, you’ll reap several benefits for your well-being. You’ll also be more receptive to signals such as Angel Numbers when they appear to you. That way, you won’t miss what your Angels or Ascended Masters are trying to tell you.
Before getting into the ways to be in the present moment, let’s look at what that means.
What Does It Mean to Be Present?
Being or living in the “present” is a term many people use, but not everyone knows what it entails. The simplest way to understand what it means to be in the present moment is to consider it as paying attention. You fully notice what’s happening around you. And you appreciate it all.
Instead of thinking about what you will do on the weekend during a meeting, you focus on what others say. And rather than thinking about regrets as you speak to a friend or relative, you tune into the conversation entirely.
Having an acute awareness of the present is all about your state of mind. You don’t ponder and obsess over the past and future while doing a task. And you remain mindful of your actions and thoughts in the present moment. Therefore, mindfulness is related to the practice of being present.
It’s not to say you can’t think about what happened years ago and what may happen a week from now. You can. However, don’t prolong your stay in the past or future. Make it a brief visit, so you don’t lose focus on what’s happening in the present moment.
Why Being Present Is Important
To be in the present moment is not without its benefits. Researchers have found numerous advantages of focusing on the present moment. These include:
- Increased energy levels
- Improved drive to achieve goals
- Enhanced self-awareness
- Better eating habits
Moreover, in one study, researchers discovered that practicing mindfulness can boost your self-esteem. It can also make you more accepting of your behavior. And it’s less likely that social norms sway you.
Over time, as you learn to be in the present moment, your stress levels may decrease. You may also be able to regulate your emotions better. This is because you have more control over your thoughts and their influence on your feelings.
Your mental health also improves as you focus on the present moment. You don’t worry as much about past mistakes, and the future becomes less daunting.
Being mindful makes you a better listener as well. Perhaps you tend to zone out during important meetings or catch-up sessions with friends and family. If that rings true to you, learning to be in the present moment can be helpful. It’ll help you escape your thoughts and pay attention to what others say.
6 Ways to Be in the Present Moment
As much as one thinks they don’t have control over their mind, that isn’t the case. You can regulate your thoughts as much as you can control what you eat and whom you engage with. Therefore, below are some methods you can practice to be in the present moment.
1. Limit Distractions
Suppose you’re at dinner with friends and family. Your phone chimes on the table, and you immediately reach for it, getting your dose of notifications from social media. While scrolling on your phone, you may miss an important announcement. You can’t walk that moment back because a distraction removed you from the present.
You lose your presence when you give in to things that draw your attention away from a task or conversation. That’s why limiting distractions is the best way to be in the present moment.
Put your phone on silent when you’re studying, working, or having dinner with friends and family. You can pause notifications during critical times using the Focus feature on your iOS device or an app. The less your attention is drawn away from the present, the more connected you’ll feel to what you’re doing.
Multi-tasking is also something you should nip in the bud to be more present. You don’t give your full attention when you do too many things at once. As a result, you’re distracted by the other task(s) you are doing. That’s when mistakes occur and what you produce isn’t as good as it should be.
2. Pay Attention to Your Surroundings
Another way to learn to be in the present moment is to notice your surroundings using your senses. Looking at what’s around you allows you to anchor yourself in the present moment. You can also use your sense of smell, taste, touch, and hearing to become rooted in the now.
Paying attention to your surroundings is a whole-body experience. At any moment, you can pause and notice how you’re experiencing the present moment with your senses. The following exercise will help you deepen your mind and body connection and anchor you in the present:
- Close your eyes and notice any scents in the room. Are they sweet or sour? Is there fresh or stale air moving through the space?
- Observe any sounds around you. Are they distant, near, loud, or quiet?
- Notice the sensations on your skin. Feel the texture of your clothes against your body. Notice how your body’s positioned on your chair or against the floor if you’re lying down.
- Notice the way your tongue feels against the roof of your mouth. Pay attention to the taste on your tongue. Is it sweet, bitter, heavy, or light?
3. Accept the Things Beyond Your Control
Many people find themselves unable to be in the present moment because they’re focused on things they can’t control. It’s easy to obsess over what happened and what could be.
However, this leaves you with more questions than answers. And it steals your attention away from the present moment.
That’s why it’s essential to accept that you can’t control everything in your life. There are certain things you have power over, like the habits you enforce daily. However, matters of the future are beyond your control, and all you can do is accept that.
The minute you come to terms with what’s beyond your control, you’ll be more focused on the present. And you can experience the full extent of your life.
4. Journal Often
Journaling is another technique to practice being present. It can feel like life is passing you by at times, and you don’t have a moment to catch up. You may achieve a significant goal. Or something may go wrong in your personal life or at work.
When you journal, you foster the habit of processing what happens in your life. You clear mental blockages and allow your thoughts to flow freely. That way, you won’t obsess over the past and future. As a result, your mind will be less busy, and you can fully be in the present moment.
Gratitude journaling is also effective in keeping you anchored in the present. This is because it prompts you to notice what you have and be grateful for it. You no longer worry about what you could have had or what you lack in your life. Instead, you focus on everything that exists in the present.
5. Do Breathing Exercises
When you notice your mind is all over the place, you can practice a simple trick to center yourself: breathwork. This practice entails focusing on your breathing to quiet your mind.
Breathwork is effective in helping anyone learn to be in the present moment. This is because it forces you to focus on the air moving in and out of your lungs. Also, it prompts you to observe the movement of your chest as you breathe.
Paying attention to your breath allows you to notice what’s happening at present in your mind. It keeps you from thinking about the past and future too. As a result, you’ll be in the position of the observer, able to notice how you’re feeling and what you’re thinking.
6. Adopt a Mindfulness Practice
You can include a few practices to practice mindfulness in your routine. These include meditation and yoga.
Meditation is a mindfulness activity many recommend to work towards being in the present moment. It’s highly effective in that it teaches you to manage your thoughts.
When you have more control over your thoughts, the past and future don’t overwhelm you. Moreover, thoughts don’t rush through your mind. Therefore, you can sink into the present moment.
Meditation has other benefits besides helping you be present. It can mitigate anxiety and reduce stress. Also, it can help you foster patience and creativity.
Yoga is also effective in helping you sink into the present. Some yoga practices combine meditation, movement, and breathwork. This trio is the perfect cocktail to keep your mind from wandering to the past and future.
Practicing yoga and meditation takes some time to get used to. In the beginning, it may feel pointless. However, if you stick to these practices, you’ll notice their benefits on your well-being and ability to be present.
Conclusion
Download the Infographic for FREE
Being present is a gift you can give yourself. Rather than going with the motions, you’ll experience your life to the fullest and create memories that feel like your own.
You won’t feel like a side character in the story of your life either. Instead, you’ll be the protagonist in charge of their destiny.
Approaching life with presence is vital to your well-being. It can help improve memory, energy levels, emotional control, and self-awareness. These benefits, in turn, boost your quality of life.
If you want to learn how to be in the present moment to notice Angel Numbers, there are ways to achieve this. The same goes if you’re ready to turn a new leaf and be more rooted in how you’re moving through life.
You can incorporate a mindfulness practice like yoga or meditation into your routine. Doing breathwork is also effective in helping you sink into the present. And limiting distractions proves helpful in being present.
Remember that being present doesn’t mean you stop caring about the future. You can set goals and make plans. However, you don’t live in the future.
