'Being more present' is one of those buzz phrases that we hear all the time.
We're constantly being told that we're too distracted, that we're always too caught up in the past or in thinking about the future.
We're chastised by productivity gurus for multi-tasking too much, and we're always being told to slow down.
But what does it really mean to 'be more present' and how can we accomplish this? Being present is actually a pretty simple concept.
Being more present is about connecting to the moment you're in, and to focus on what you're doing in a deep way.
Instead of rehashing good or bad moments from the past, and instead of worrying and planning for the future, being more present means wholly sitting where and when you are.
By clearing your head of concerns, you'll notice all sorts of things about your present experience, which leads to a deep focus on what you're doing.
Focusing does not mean giving yourself a headache thinking hard and 'concentrating' on the moment.
Focusing means nothing more than tuning into your visceral experience.
Noticing how you feel.
Noticing little details, like all the different textures within that bite of your sandwich, or the way that the keys of your laptop feel as your hands effortlessly find the keys that you're looking for.
Being more present and focusing on the moment does not mean taking all the stress you usually apply to thinking about the future and applying it to the present, it means letting go, unclenching your mind and just noticing and examining everything in a calm manner.
Now that you know what it means to be present, you can now probably think about some ways in which you can practice being more present.
The first, and most important step, is to unclench your mind and to relax yourself.
Often people tell you to clear your mind, and most of us find that practice almost impossible.
Instead of having no thoughts, simply don't hold onto them tightly, notice them as they enter your headspace and let them pass by like a drifting cloud.
Eventually you're mind will clear up a bit, but in the moment just resolve to not clench down on every passing thought.
Once you've unclenched your brain, it's time to start casually noticing things.
Look at what's going on around you.
Notice how you feel- physically, emotionally, mentally.
One of the best ways to be present is to pay attention to your breathing.
Your breath is one of the most fundamental aspects of being alive, and noticing and appreciating the root of your being can go a long way towards helping you let go of all the less important distractions.
One of the best ways to get adept at relaxing in the moment is taking dedicated time to let go in a conscious way, such as through meditating.
By training yourself to understand what it feels like to be present in a very deliberate and conscious way, you'll find it that much easier to slip into the moment on command.
Just like a concert pianist trains so that they'll respond properly when the necessary moment arrives, you too can train yourself to be present so that you can call on your newfound skill unconsciously when the moment demands it.
We're constantly being told that we're too distracted, that we're always too caught up in the past or in thinking about the future.
We're chastised by productivity gurus for multi-tasking too much, and we're always being told to slow down.
But what does it really mean to 'be more present' and how can we accomplish this? Being present is actually a pretty simple concept.
Being more present is about connecting to the moment you're in, and to focus on what you're doing in a deep way.
Instead of rehashing good or bad moments from the past, and instead of worrying and planning for the future, being more present means wholly sitting where and when you are.
By clearing your head of concerns, you'll notice all sorts of things about your present experience, which leads to a deep focus on what you're doing.
Focusing does not mean giving yourself a headache thinking hard and 'concentrating' on the moment.
Focusing means nothing more than tuning into your visceral experience.
Noticing how you feel.
Noticing little details, like all the different textures within that bite of your sandwich, or the way that the keys of your laptop feel as your hands effortlessly find the keys that you're looking for.
Being more present and focusing on the moment does not mean taking all the stress you usually apply to thinking about the future and applying it to the present, it means letting go, unclenching your mind and just noticing and examining everything in a calm manner.
Now that you know what it means to be present, you can now probably think about some ways in which you can practice being more present.
The first, and most important step, is to unclench your mind and to relax yourself.
Often people tell you to clear your mind, and most of us find that practice almost impossible.
Instead of having no thoughts, simply don't hold onto them tightly, notice them as they enter your headspace and let them pass by like a drifting cloud.
Eventually you're mind will clear up a bit, but in the moment just resolve to not clench down on every passing thought.
Once you've unclenched your brain, it's time to start casually noticing things.
Look at what's going on around you.
Notice how you feel- physically, emotionally, mentally.
One of the best ways to be present is to pay attention to your breathing.
Your breath is one of the most fundamental aspects of being alive, and noticing and appreciating the root of your being can go a long way towards helping you let go of all the less important distractions.
One of the best ways to get adept at relaxing in the moment is taking dedicated time to let go in a conscious way, such as through meditating.
By training yourself to understand what it feels like to be present in a very deliberate and conscious way, you'll find it that much easier to slip into the moment on command.
Just like a concert pianist trains so that they'll respond properly when the necessary moment arrives, you too can train yourself to be present so that you can call on your newfound skill unconsciously when the moment demands it.