Discover 11 practical tips on how to live in the moment and embrace the ‘now’ instead of dwelling on your past or worrying about the future.
Living in a world that glorifies multitasking and productivity, it can be hard to slow down and savor the moment the way you’re meant to.
Half the time, your mind is busy making plans for tomorrow, and the other half is spent worrying about things that have gone wrong in the past.
But the truth is, the past is a collection of memories, and the future a realm of infinite possibilities—neither of which exists at this moment.
The only way to let go of your regrets and work toward a better future is to embrace the present in its raw beauty.
What Is It Like To Live In The Present?
Living in the present isn’t about forsaking your ambitions or ignoring your responsibilities.
Rather, it’s about approaching life with a newfound sense of clarity and purpose.
It’s about savoring the simple pleasures in life – A warm cup of tea on a chilly morning, the gentle rustle of leaves, and the laughter of your loved ones during Sunday dinner.
Sounds lovely, doesn’t it?
The good news is that there are practices that you can follow to start living in the now and enjoy every little moment of your life.
Read on to discover 11 simple ways to live in the moment, let go of the unnecessary, and fill your mind with a sense of presence and purpose.
11 Ways To Live In The Moment
1. Engage your senses
The simplest and easiest way to bring your attention to the present is to engage your senses fully. There is so much to see, hear, observe, and smell.
Tap into mindfulness by taking note of the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and textures around you.
Savor every sip of your coffee, feel the warmth of sunlight on your skin, and listen to the soothing sounds of nature.
Observe the people around you when you’re outdoors (without being creepy, of course) and notice how much life there is around you.
These moments of openness will also help you calm your racing thoughts and allow yourself to just be.
2. Embrace imperfections in life
In our quest for perfection, we often lose sight of the beauty that lies in imperfection.
We conjure pictures of a perfect future because our present isn’t satisfying enough for us. This leads to a noisy brain that doesn’t know how to stay present.
To counter this state of unrest, you need to stop vying for flawlessness and embrace the messiness of life instead.
No matter how imperfect or uncertain your present is, allow yourself to live in it, for it is the one thing you can actually control.
Embrace your quirks, pour into your mental health, and face your challenges by turning to healthy coping mechanisms like journaling, self-care, and exercise.
Accepting imperfections will open the door to a more authentic and mindful living, helping you shed unrealistic expectations and take things one day at a time.
3. Practice random acts of kindness
Living in the moment isn’t just about being present for ourselves; it’s also about connecting with others and the world around us.
A fun way to do this is by practicing random acts of kindness.
Smile when you make eye contact with someone, greet your coworkers with a smile, give genuine compliments, and hug your loved ones when they’re having a rough day.
These small gestures will bring joy to others and also cultivate a sense of presence and gratitude within your heart.
4. Cultivate beginner’s mind
If you truly want to enjoy the present, then approach each moment with a sense of curiosity and openness, as if you were experiencing it for the first time.
If you think about it, each moment is actually brand new, and curiosity should be our natural response to life.
This habit (known as beginner’s mind) will help you let go of preconceived notions and judgment.
You’ll find yourself living each day with a fresh perspective and experiencing stuff with childlike wonder and curiosity.
You might like: 13 Unique Joyful Activities That Will Fill Up Your Heart
5. Create rituals of presence in your routine
Living in the moment isn’t just a trait or a habit to build. It’s an art, a blissful way of life that can be nurtured through practices of mindfulness.
Gift yourself the joy of presence by indulging in daily rituals that still your thoughts and bring your awareness to the present.
Here are some of my personal favorites that you can try:
- Enjoy your morning coffee by the window or on the porch
- Take a walk out in the open during your lunch breaks
- List five things you’re grateful for before bed
- Hit play on a 5-minute guided meditation on YouTube
- Do a 20-minute cardio at home
- Read before bed
- Try crocheting or knitting
- Play a musical instrument
- Create a journal entry using a fresh journal prompt
6. Listen patiently while others talk
There are many people you interact with on a daily basis, but how engaged are you when others talk?
Listening to others is a thoughtful and effective way to cultivate your sense of presence.
Practice active listening by giving your full attention when someone is talking.
Maintain eye contact, and refrain from interrupting or formulating responses in your mind while they speak.
Don’t think about other things during the conversation, and acknowledge the speaker’s thoughts and feelings without any judgment.
Not only will this make you more patient, but you’ll also be a better friend to your people.
7. Spend alone time in nature
Whenever I find myself overthinking or stressing about things I can’t control, I turn to nature for company. From the trees, I’ve learned that there’s strength in staying still.
The wind has taught me to flow no matter what’s going on around me.
Even on dark days, the sun still shows up and shines from behind the clouds, and that has taught me the power of consistency.
There is so much to learn from Nature, it’s actually insane.
Spend time outdoors and become one with nature to really grasp the feeling of being present.
Go for hikes, stroll through the park, sit in your backyard, read under a tree, and take off your shoes to feel the earth beneath your feet.
Every moment you spend in nature will stay in your heart, breathing life into your being and renewing your ability to stay in the present.
8. Practice mindful eating
Meals are an important part of your routine, and they also offer the perfect opportunity to practice mindfulness.
When you’re eating, take the time to savor each bite.
Appreciate the flavors by slowing down a little and keeping all your attention on your meal.
I try not to watch anything on the screen while eating as that strips away my mindfulness real fast.
You can play a podcast or just play some songs during your eating time.
Mindful eating will enhance your appreciation for food and also help you to fully engage with the present moment.
9. Practice gratitude in action
Gratitude is a powerful feeling to have. It can make you content with your present, grow happiness in your heart even when nothing special is going on, and make you appreciate the smallest details in life.
There are many ways to practice gratitude — listing down the things you’re grateful for and keeping a gratitude journal being the most popular ones.
But nothing is more effective than practicing gratitude in action, i.e., actively showing actually how grateful you are for life.
You can do this by simply saying thank you more often, lending help to a friend, volunteering for a cause, or taking extra care of the people and things that you love in life.
It’s like giving back to the world for every good thing it has to offer you.
Every action of gratitude will fill you with satisfaction, deepening your relationship with your surroundings.
10. Let yourself be playful
Ever observed playing children?
They’re so carefree and joyous while making castles, running around, or just sitting quietly talking to their toys.
You might no longer be a kid, but that doesn’t mean you can’t play. In fact, the older we get, the more we need to remind ourselves of what it’s like to be a child.
Engage in playful activities like painting your fingers, building a blanket fort, or dancing freely in your room.
Play hide and seek with your friends (coz why not?), laugh loudly, and go back to your childhood hobbies.
Playfulness fosters creativity, reduces stress, and encourages a lighthearted approach to life, making it easier to stay grounded in the now.
11. Take regular breaks from the digital world
It’s very much possible to be present while engaging with the digital world, but using your devices too much will inevitably cause a disconnect from the real world.
That’s why it’s important to give yourself regular digital detoxes, preferably every day.
Set aside a time window in your routine to disconnect from digital devices. It can be the first hour of your morning or an hour before your bedtime.
Use your time away from your devices to engage in activities that promote presence and mindfulness.
Read a physical book, have a face-to-face conversation with a loved one, or head outside for a walk in nature.
Taking digital breaks will free up your time as well as your energy, which in turn will make it easier to build a solid connection to the here and now.
Ready To Start Living In The Present?
Despite your best efforts toward being more present, your mind might stray here and there often.
It won’t be possible to be mindful 24/7, and that’s fine.
You don’t have to teach yourself to live in the moment all the time.
For now, just focus on being more present than you already are, and keep trying to get better at this art.
Approach these 11 tips with a soft mind and good intentions, and savor the richness of life, one moment at a time.
Read next: 8 Things That I Gave Up To Simplify My Life
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