Tips for Staying Present..
When you wake up, does your mind wander about everything you have to do or what didn’t get done yesterday rather than being present to waking up and taking a few moments to just be?
To move past your overthinking, you must let yourself be entirely okay with ‘what is,’ rather than being concerned about ‘what is not.’ Ignoring how things are in the present and focusing on what you think might happen in the future can cause suffering. No one can control everything that happens to them, but they can control how they respond at the moment. The only way you can change your reality is by staying present and finding solutions to resolve it in the future. It is only in the present moment we can change our reality.
Here are a few tips on staying present and reducing struggle.
Slow all the way down.
Try your best to slow down as much as you can. When you slow down, you practice doing things at a relaxed and calm pace. This will probably not take you much longer than if you do it quickly, but it will help you stay present. Focus on what you are doing enables you to concentrate on the task and reduce the mind clutter.
Fully engage in one undertaking at a time.
Focus on where you are and what you are doing. Don’t let the long list of to-dos get to you; concentrate on completing one task at a time, then move onto the next. This keeps you engaged in the now.
Narrate what you are doing in your mind.
Part of being present is avoiding the “what is not” mind chatter. Do your best to continually change the conversation in your mind by narrating what you are doing.
As you do your day-to-day tasks, say to yourself, “Now I am doing X.”
For example, if you are brushing your teeth, then say: “Now I am brushing my teeth.”
This practice can keep you from drifting away to the future or past, and when you do, just bring yourself back with the narration. You don’t have to do this all day, only when you need to reset your mind to present.
Morning routines can change your entire day.
What you do when you first wake up can determine the tone for your day. Start a new routine and build on it as you perfect one habit at a time. Allow yourself to build momentum. Routine can keep you focused on creating new healthy behaviors.
Morning routines can include some or all of the following:
MEDITATION – spend time focusing inward. This practice can improve your mindfulness and help you find what you need to create more.
Journaling – write down the thoughts that can limit you, then build on them to find what you need to improve. Facing your thoughts on paper can help you resolve and process through them.
Exercising – this can be any way you choose to move your body. A healthier body helps build a healthier mind.
Creating – this can include gratitude lists, an affirmation for the day, poetry, drawing, anything that helps you relax or improves your mood. The more you create positive things, the easier it is for you to do it throughout the day.
Feeling – focusing on HOW YOU WANT to feel is key. Every morning ask yourself, “how do I want to feel today?” and “what can I do to create that feeling?”
This list can be extended; just remember it is your routine, try new things, and find what works best for you. Some or all of these can help you create a solution to your reality at the moment. Being present is the best way forward. My Online Learning to Meditate Course is now ready to help you on your journey to being present. Read below for details.
From my heart to yours… love always,
Jeanette