Being present in your daily life is easier said than done, but once you harness the power to live in the moment, it’s like a weight has been lifted from your shoulders. When you learn how to be present-minded, you’ll quickly notice that there are several life-changing benefits, including improved social skills, reduced stress levels, increased creativity, less over-thinking, the ability to be more open, playfulness, and a greater appreciation for the world around you. During times of uncertainty, it’s all the more important to know how to be more present. Here are some key ways to help you on your journey to living a more balanced and stressless lifestyle.
Swap Angst With Curiosity
Is fear precluding you from growing on a spiritual, emotional, or physical level? The fear of making the wrong decision, taking a risk, or being a perpetual people-pleaser could be holding you back from getting that promotion, living in your dream home, or finding the perfect relationship. Instead of feeling fearful, look at these scary scenarios as an opportunity to act on feelings of curiosity instead. It will help you be more open to trying new things and meeting new people.
Trust Your Gut
Believe it or not, you can rarely go wrong by making a decision based on trusting your first instinct. The tricky part is learning how to trust your gut. Practice by acting on what your instinct is telling you when it comes to making a small or large decision. Once you get into this habit, you’ll have greater confidence in your decisions.
Practice Gratitude
Gratitude is defined as feeling thankful for what one has and being ready to express that appreciation. When we practice spiritual gratitude, we are expressing our thankfulness for what we have received, including material or monetary gains, positive feelings, and the people in our lives. Make an effort to cultivate gratitude every day by writing down what you’re grateful for (even the simplest things count!), learning how to recognize the feeling of gratitude within your body, getting support to stay strong (friend, family member, psychic or otherwise), and staying consistent with your practice.
Surround Yourself With Positive People
While constructive criticism can help you grow, destructive negativity can cause you to doubt yourself. Maybe it’s because someone is jealous of you or perhaps they are just miserable in their own lives. Whether it’s friends, family, a significant other, or spiritual advisors, surround yourself with positive people who make you feel more confident and motivated. Of course, with social distancing in place, you’re going to have to connect in different ways. Have daily phone calls with family, video chat a dear friend, or get a group chat going to keep up with multiple loved ones. Spending extended periods of time away from others can tend to feel isolating, but luckily technology allows us to still feel closely connected during this experience. Stay connected with others to remind yourself that you are not alone, and we are all in this together.
Practice Self-Care
A healthy body equates to a healthy mind—one that is more apt to stay present. Taking care of yourself is crucial on a normal day let alone during uncertain times. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep, exercising, and eating a balanced diet filled with nourishing whole foods. Self-care can also be defined as carving out some time for yourself to do something you enjoy such as reading, gardening, listening to music, taking a bubble bath, cooking a healthy meal, etc.
Meditate
Schedule some time in your day to take a deep breath and clear your mind. Even if it’s just for 10 or 15 minutes, meditating each day can be a very effective way to reduce your stress levels, increase relaxation, and improve sleep. This can also help you practice mindfulness, increasing your self-awareness so you can address how you are truly feeling. If you’re looking to get started, try out guided meditations found on YouTube or download apps such as Headspace and Calm.
