When lockdown started, I spent most of my time on social media or connecting with my family members whom I met almost after a year. As soon as the first wave ended, my college decided to reopen, and I was excited to meet my friends, discuss our break and our overtime at home due to lockdown. When I met all my friends, I realized I wasn’t as happy as I thought I would be as most of my friends had utilized their time productively in the pandemic.
Although I was extremely happy for them, I was disheartened, as I thought I was supposed to relax and have fun but came to know that people did their best and achieved great heights. I started accusing myself of being careless, lazy, and all the damn things and regretted the time lost or what I could have done during that time that could have helped me achieve my goals.
Later that night, I called my mother and explained to her how I felt. To which she said –
“You know already that you shouldn’t be comparing yourself with ANYONE, be it your friends or be it the past YOU. By doing this, you are not only causing yourself trouble but also spoiling those moments you once wanted to treasure.
Having the proper mindfulness of the present moment is the most important thing in life. It is important to realize that living in the present is the only way to experience the world truly. While it’s good to be prepared for the future, but wishing to live another person’s good life might not be beneficial for you.” She told me to “Live in the moment” and told me to try these ways to live in the moment and be to present with my life:
After practicing some of her tips in my life, I thought of sharing these nuggets with my other friends, who stressed upon spending the lockdown in complete leisure and chill.
So here are 11 ways you can be more mindful.
1. Stop worrying about what the future holds:
You can avoid worrying if you keep your thoughts focused on your present, as worrying happens only when you look to the future. Your today makes the future.
2. Stop regretting the decisions you made in the past:
Thinking about the past brings back bad memories. One needs to understand that the past is over and no longer exists. The past mistakes are brought back to life only by thinking about them. Instead of regretting, focus on the learnings, you got from those decisions and how they have shaped you.
3.Turn off the electronic devices:
I know it’s tough, but we all know electronic devices distract us from the present moment. Turning them off can help you find enjoyment in your own life rather than in frivolous communication or an imaginary world.
4. Avoid hurrying & Multitasking:
You still got a lot of time, appreciate that. Doing one task at a time is the norm. Single-tasking is much more conducive to living in the present, whereas Multitasking can be considered a thing of the past and often unproductive.
5. Practice decluttering and Minimalism:
Get organized by eliminating unnecessary items. Doing so will help reduce stress and help you live a more balanced life. It is essential to understand that having way too many possessions at once can be more of a burden than an advantage.
6. Don’t keep unnecessary grudges:
Forgiving people can be more beneficial for you rather than people you are forgiving. When you hold grudges, The one who suffers the most is you. Anger can be distracting and can push you away from enjoying the current moment.
7. Slow down and enjoy the space you are in right now:
Slow down and deliberately approach each task at a time. Doing so will help you focus on the critical things in life. Give yourself enough time to enjoy the activity you are currently performing. Address one task at a time and give it your complete attention.
8. Learn from other’s experiences:
Listen to someone when they are speaking to you. Please show them your complete attention and participate to the best of your ability in the conversation.
Don’t be a passive listener, be curious and ask questions.
9. Journal your thoughts:
Spend 5 minutes in your day to write about your thoughts & emotions. Writing will help you keep your mind focused on the present moment and not the past. Describe everything that you see, hear, smell and feel. Be completely honest with yourself. Learn more about journaling here.
Try the Mind Alcove app to write your thoughts & emotions in a secure & private way. Download here
10. Practice mindful eating:
Slow down and enjoy your food. Doing so will allow you to enjoy the food more, which can be a good thing for many of us. Eat slowly and keep your focus on the flavor of each bite.
11. Don’t burden yourself:
Too many obligations can create a tight schedule and time concerns. It’s essential to stay focused on the present task at hand. Don’t overthink your situation, and don’t put any pressure on yourself.
Instead of focusing on the past, try to live in the present. Doing so will allow you to experience and learn from the past. Avoid missing out on your life and losing so much time to the past and the future. Living in the moment is rightly conventional and should be made part of daily life. While it is not possible to live entirely in the moment, life is more pleasant and significant when you focus on your present.
I hope you could start some of these activities in your life. Share your mindful moments in the comments.
