“The clock is running. Make the most of today. Time waits for no man. Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That’s why it is called the present.” – Alice Morse Earle
We all know that it’s important to live in the moment, but the problem is how? Often, we’re so trapped in thoughts of the future or the worries of past that we forget to experience, let alone enjoy, what’s happening right now – when we’re at work, we fantasize about being on vacation; on vacation, we worry about the work piling up on our desks…. and it never stops. Of course! It’s natural to spend moments of thought in the past or in the planning of the future. But when our lives become more dictated by thoughts and emotions attached to past events and potential future outcomes, it becomes increasingly arduous to live fully in the present moment.
Knowing the importance of living in the moment is actually great but taking action is quite difficult. It can be challenging to live in the now when now is tough or stressful. I will be sharing a few tips to help you stay focused on the moment—and enjoy every minute of your life.
1. Stop being physically present but mentally absent:
Living in the moment means, giving your full attention to the task you are working on, being sole with the people you are at that moment. If you are at work, just concentrate on your work commitments and meetings. Likewise, when you are with your family, friends or loved ones, just give them your full attention. If something important related to work or some future planning pops into your mind, try to make a note of it on your phone or your planner sheet and return to your present role. Also, try to avoid your indulgence in the phone, limit your technology use and focus on the people you are having a conversation with. There are few things that can wait without causing you any trouble. Wherever you are, enjoy being there, completely. Whatever you are doing, do it with full presence and engage in every moment as fully as you can!
2. Stop constantly planning about the things that are not currently happening:
People cannot help themselves when it comes to planning. It’s a good thing to have a plan and a set schedule for your day or goals for the future. But, then stressing over the plan and schedule you made, can get frustrating. You can think about the future and imagine how it will come about, but you can never truly ensure that everything will work out the way you want it to. Like, when you are on a vacation but your mind is constantly thinking about your to-do list and calculating how much time you will need to get each thing done when you get back home. In that case, you are failing to live in the moment. Living in the moments means, appreciating each moment of your day and focus on what you are doing at that particular time. When you start doing that, you may not have time to even think about other things that are yet to happen. Planning and achieving your goal is important but during that course don’t forget to enjoy the journey to achieving your goal. Don’t allow dreaming about tomorrow to replace living in today. Have faith that whatever happens in the future, you will find a way to deal with it.
3. Forget your bitter past for bright today:
It’s simply impractical to never plan or think of the past. Thinking and reflecting on the past allows us to learn from our mistakes. Learn from your past mistakes, get rid of your guilt, find a way to disconnect from everything that’s holding you back and move on with your life. You can’t fully enjoy your present life if you worry too much about your past. And since worry has never accomplished anything for anybody, redirect your mental energy to your present. When you catch yourself thinking about bad things from the past, look around and try to think about all good things going on right now and enjoy the beauty of today. Leave the past behind you, that has happened and you can’t change it. Focus now on the present moment and happiness.
“We spend precious hours fearing the inevitable. It would be wise to use that time to adore our families, cherishing our friends and living our lives.” ― Maya Angelou
When you live in the moment, you experience all the happiness life has to offer and you are more productive and focussed.
4. Pay attention to small things:
We’re busy. We’re multitasking. And we think this makes things better because we get more done – watching TV while you eat, checking your phone when with your friends or someone special, cooking and talking over the phone.. These habits could save your time but won’t help in living those times fully. Why not do one thing at a time, and don’t hurry through it. So learn to relax, where you can and enjoy where you are, appreciate the present. With time passing by, life feels like it is moving so much faster than it ever has before. However, despite how much we have to go on within our day, whether it is productive or not, we need to start taking the time to appreciate and enjoy the little things in our life. Pay your attention to those everyday things that are easy to be taken for granted or miss altogether. Your attention determines the experiences you have and the experiences you have determine the life you live. As the years pass, you will look back and realize that the little things… they become big things. No matter how fast you feel like your life is moving, choose to be present for now and learn to appreciate the little things, whatever that may be for you, and you’ll see a big difference!
“We’re so busy watching out for what’s just ahead of us that we don’t take time to enjoy where we are.” ― Bill Watterson
Most of the time, we get to be more anxious about the future than our present situation. We tend to forget what can be controlled and think of what is uncontrollable at the moment. Leave the future aside and make the best out of the present situation.
If you’re having trouble falling asleep at night, it’s probably because your mind is still mulling over the stressful events of the day. Instead of thinking about the things you need to do tomorrow, try to enter the gratitude mode at bedtime. Think about the beautiful things that happened to you today.
“Do not look back and grieve over the past, for it is gone; and do not be troubled about the future, for it has yet to come. Live in the present, and make it so beautiful that it will be worth remembering” ― Ida Scott Taylor McKinney
Please let me know your views about this post in the comment section below. Thanks for visiting my blog.
Stay happy, healthy and motivated..
Beautiful post and blog. Thank you for the like on our page, it gave me the opportunity to find yours. We are now following and looking forward to seeing more! Teresa, Fiftythriftyandfabuless.
Thank you so much.. I like your blog and following back..
This is a great post! 🙂
Yes, it is, the trick is to calm the mind.
Very amazing post. Inspirational thanks ❤❤
Thank you for the reminder to Stop and Smell the Roses!! “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is God’s gift, that’s why we call it the present.”.
Totally enjoyed your post!!
That’s so true!
Enjoyed your message in this post. I have been practicing being in the moment more with my family although it’s tough when they don’t practice the same thinking. But I am successful with my son. My phone is away and I give him my undivided attention. It makes us really enjoy the time we have together.
Thanks for liking my post..that’s so amazing and it really feels great to be present there without any distraction.. family time is the best ..😊
Absolutely!
This post is so true. Very well written.
Thank you
That’s true 👌
Thanks
“The Power of Now” – your post is a terrific reminder. Namaste.
Namaste 🙏 I like it! Thank you for reading my post..😊😊😊
That’s a great post!! Makes one think…
I really enjoyed reading your article. You give some great advice here. It is true too many times I have found myself multi-tasking or should I say trying to do too much so a little focus is going in many directions just to meet perceived deadlines. As I have gotten older I have adopted a lot of what you recommend and now tend to give all of my attention to doing one thing well, and being present in that moment. Life becomes much more meaningful when taking the time, to appreciate, oh and remembering to breath helps a lot too 🤣
And I loved your comment… your kind words of appreciation and a beautiful insight to my blog has just made my day… 😊
You are so welcome 💖
Beautiful write up..
Love this post – striving to do this every day, but not always easy!!! Thanks for taking the time to visit our blog as well!
Yes girl!! “Being physically present but mentally absent” Love this!
So well written that actually we could relate to.. well presented and liked the quotes.. living the moment should be the moto to lead a happy and contented life.. ☺
Thank you so much for appreciating… 😊
Great advice and wonderfully written!
Thank you
Good advice. I found Eckhart Tolle’s books, The Power of Now, and also A New Earth to be very helpful with living in the moment
thanks… would go through your recommended books…
You are spot on! Life is too short so grab what you can now!
That’s so true..thanks for your kind words..😊😊
Valuable content!
I totally agree with you. Great post.
Lovely pictures.
Thank you so much for appreciating 😊
My pleasure, dear.
Great advice 🙂 People should definitely enjoy the current moment physically and mentally… chasing thoughts of the past or of the future deprives you of enjoying the real moment present! Nice thoughts you had 🙂
That’s so true..😊 thanks for liking my post and appreciating 😊
You’re very welcome 😊🌸
An excellent reminder of the importance of being in the moment and being fully present with all we are doing.
This is an awesome post and I agree with you!
Thank you so much for appreciating
great advice. Libe life now
I like this post! My post from yesterday “Holy Crap… I’m What?!” Has a similar line in it, as I had just spoken to a friend on the phone that was fired from her job after 4 years of hard work and nothing but dedication.
She was devastated and bitter about what had happened. I reassured her that in life, things may happen to us that we don’t always know the reason for, but it turns out to be that we needed it to happen so we could move on to something better!
She’s not used to me using such calm and collected logic! LOL. So she heard me, really heard me, which was an awesome feeling!!
Just a little excerpt from the post I mentioned:
“Even when life throws you the biggest curveball, that you never even saw coming, love the moment. Those moments are the life lessons that we never realized we needed.
There is no way to know how our life will turn out. We see a fork in the road and we take the best path we can at the time with the knowledge and information we are given. And there is nothing wrong with that.”
Nice work, yet again! 😉
I’ve got a big problem with missing the moment as I’ve gotten old and I’m focused on finding my way back
Nice thoughts, Rachana! Great choice of quotes too!
Thank you so much for appreciating… 😊
Very true… Nice thoughts….
Love this! Always important to live in the present. Thanks for the awesome advice!
love this so much! It is such an important reminder especially in today’s society
Thank you for appreciating…😊
living in the moment! it’s a nice idea but practically quite tough .you have written a nice post to help with the past and future battle.
Thank you for your views regarding this post..
Wow. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
thanks for visiting my blog and sharing your views..
Thank you so much for all your hard work 😊😊😊
Thanks dear..😊
Such wise advice. Thank you for writing and posting this!
Thank you so much for your kind words of appreciation 😊😊😊
Great post. Loved it
Nice share💐
Thank you 😊
You’re most welcome friend💐💐💐
Lovely post.
Thank you 😊
Wonderful posts… Very well written…Thanks for sharing….😊😊
Thank you so much..I am glad that you liked it 😊
My pleasure 😊😊
Good post! It’s so easy to say “live in the moment” but to actually do it requires quite a bit of concentrated effort and conscious choices. We live in a world of constant distractions – both internally and externally – and it’s so hard to switch off and just be in the present moment. I enjoyed reading this!
Thanks…and you are so right! It’s hard to switch off our mind and just think about the present… that’s why it’s getting so hard for people to feel the happiness… leading to depression and sadness… living in the moment needs proper control over the thoughts, which is not easy..
Your post clearly indicates how positive you are a person.. life is to live and love kudos
Thank you so much for appreciating…😊
Great post. I think we’re all guilty of living in the past to some extent, I know I am. This is food for thought!
Thank you dear…and yes! I totally agree with you on that…not thinking about the past is something impractical… Atleast we can distant ourselves with those thoughts for the times that are special and need our attention..🤗
Very well said Rachna! 😊
Thank you 😊
Very well written
Thanks dear😊
My pleasure
Impressive post.. Its sad that many of us are brooding about past and the planning for future so much that we often forget how to enjoy the present moment. Present is such a beautiful thing if people staying in the present can only understand the value of that. No one knows what happens in the future and the past is already done. So we should try to stay in present and enjoy the moments.
😃🎉
Thank you so much for your kind words… And I totally agree with you on the fact that no one knows what future holds for us and what we have is present which we can turn into a good future.. 😊
You are welcome 👍
Very well written and glad reading it!
Thank you and I am glad, you liked it
Very well expressed…
So true…most of us are either prisoners of past or too busy thinking about the future that we forget to live the present..
Regards
That’s so true…living life fully in the moment without any worries is so important in today’s busy life…thanks for visiting my blog..😊
You are welcome.