Ways To Be More Present
It’s officially the New Year and technically that means it’s time to start acting on those resolutions we all made, right?
As an avid list-maker and perfectionist, I normally make a long list of New Years Resolutions for myself. However, this year I decided to take a step back from that and reconsider. I realized that I always make this loooong list of “to-do’s” for myself for the year ahead, only to find that I become overwhelmed and distracted by such an extensive and daunting list.
Thus, I have decided that this year I will try to focus on just one thing that’s important to me, which is working towards being more present in my life.
We’ve all heard this before, but what does “being more present” actually mean and how can we actually achieve this? Between all the constant communication, being inundated with content, and navigating our busy lives, it can be hard to slow down and find presence in daily life. Thus, I have come up with a little list or cheat sheet for some ways to find more presence in your daily life.
This is a non-strict list, meaning these are simply some ideas, guidelines or suggestions for ways to be more present. I believe that if I can practice even one of these things every day, I will be improving my quality of life and overall happiness. I hope you will find these helpful!
Meditate.
This one is pretty self-explanatory, and I could go on and on about the benefits of meditation, but I have found that starting my day with a quiet reflection does wonders for my mental state and my mood.
Listen.
This is a big one. I often find that I (and others) are just waiting to say something instead of actually listening during a conversation. Don’t just wait to say something, listen, and thoughtfully respond. Take in what someone else is saying or going through. Respond intentionally. Don’t just react.
Give.
Giving back is a selfless thing to do, but let’s be honest, it also makes you feel pretty dang good about yourself. This year, I’d like to focus more on generosity, giving back, and thinking of others before myself.
Unplug.
This is another big one. Again, I could go on and on about the benefits of reducing screen time, but really, if you’re on your phone, where are you? You’re not here. Put your phone away at dinner, before bed and set screen time limits to take you out of your screen and into the world around you.
Practice Gratitude.
We all have busy lives and busy days. It can be very easy to get caught up in the chaos of everyday life, but if you can take some time, even a minute, to just be grateful and reflect on the blessings in your life, you may find inner happiness and meaning.
Create First, Consume Second.
I love this idea. As a creative, I am both in love with and super susceptibly to the time suck that is Instagram. I heard this idea first in a podcast and loved it. Instead of mindlessly scrolling, use your time to create first, then consume. Create something meaningful and reward yourself by giving yourself that 10 minutes of scroll-joy.
Go Outside.
This is one is also pretty self-explanatory. If you’re stressed, take a walk. This can be a good tactic to use if you are focusing on responding over reacting. Some sunshine and fresh air can work wonders for your mood, your health and your mind.
Slow Down.
Find quite time. Enjoy the little things. Notice the beauty in the world. If you’re walking to work, don’t just walk with your head down or your eyes in your screen. Notice what’s around you, smell the fresh air, focus on the good.
Act Intentionally.
This one is a little more fickle and hard to grasp, but the best way I can articulate it is to reduce time on autopilot. I often find myself just going through the motions (i.e. wake up, make coffee, start working, etc.) and then I realize that my day is over. I urge you to challenge this - don’t just do things because you’re supposed to or because you’re used to them, do things because you feel compelled to, because it matters to you, because it’s going to improve your life or somebody else’s.
x Michaela