It can be so easy to lose track of the present. Without really noticing, days turn into weeks and weeks into months, until all of a sudden you realize that you haven’t made the time to live your life and enjoy yourself. You’ve been so busy working, taking care of the family, making bucket lists, worrying and wearing yourself thin, that you haven’t actually paid any attention to the things that really move you and make you feel passionate about life.
In the grand scheme of things, we spend so little time on this Earth that the mere thought of not making the best of our precious time is ridiculous. Why shouldn’t we make some time to be in the present and remind ourselves that – like Joan Baez says – we actually can decide how we’re going to live?
This simple reminder can help snap us back into the present. Even better, it helps us enjoy what we have and keep striving towards what we want, instead of just anxiously thinking about it.
When we can’t fully live in the present moment, it’s usually because we worry too much about the past or the future, and neither option is good for you. Of course, it’s perfectly fine to wonder about how things might be in years to come or to reflect upon your past experiences. The problem arises when that’s all you’re thinking about.
When you’re obsessed with the past and future, you aren’t doing yourself and those around you any favors. Being stuck in the past or only thinking about the future keeps you from living in the moment… which, if you think about it, is the only thing we really have.
If you’ve decided to stop worrying and enjoy your life for what it is, continue reading so you can turn this theory into practice.
Don’t be too busy for the important things.
Pay attention to yourself and the people you care about. Spending time with your loved ones will naturally make you focus on the present. So throw a gathering for no special reason, treat yourself to a fancy dinner, and don’t miss those birthday parties and special occasions. Make yourself present for the important things right here and now.
Pay attention to your senses.
Make everyday activities a full-on sensory experience. Focus on the way your muscles tense up and release as you do your morning stretches, make your daily shower a luscious experience by being mindful about it, savor the different smells while you’re cooking… the list goes on. When you focus on what your senses perceive, you are living in the present.
Be prepared.
You’ll feel free to enjoy the present if you’re prepared for the future. Create a fund (an old-fashioned piggy bank will do) where you save some money to indulge in fun things. Sometimes, financial struggles are what keeps us up at night: having a special fund that you can use to create enjoyable experiences or treat yourself to mini-luxuries will save you a lot of worry. You can save and spend at the same time as long as you’re conscious about your cash flow — don’t spend more than what you earn.
Now that we’ve discussed how to enjoy living in the moment, we have to address the other elephant in the room: worry.
Here are some actions you can practice to stop worrying so much.
Deal with the past.
Everyone has regrets, but you don’t have to let them take over.
Thinking about what could have been is a surefire way to feel sad and remorseful. While it’s perfectly fine to reminisce about past events you wish would have went differently, don’t let yourself go overboard and live only in memories. Make a conscious effort to recall what you’ve learned from such experiences and let them go.
Deal with negative feelings from the past and acknowledge that, while you can’t change the past, you can change how you perceive them today.
Don’t let feelings of being overwhelmed take over.
Accept that you can’t control everything.
Uncertainty causes a lot of stress, but it’s also a part of everyone’s lives. The truth is that no one really knows what the future holds for us. There are so many things we don’t have control over that there’s simply no point in letting them overwhelm us. The sooner you admit this, the less overwhelmed you’ll feel.
Contrary to what you may think, accepting the hard truth that we don’t know how everything’s going to play out in the end actually offers us the chance to get working on the things we do have some power over, like our actions and attitude.
Worry and be happy.
Granted, this isn’t actually possible at the same time. There will inevitably be some days that you’ll be stressed out and worried. It happens. So please don’t beat yourself up about it.
Give yourself some time to worry… especially if it gives you a push towards taking action. If you don’t want to worry so much, place limits on your worrying. You’d be surprised at how such a simple idea can make people switch perspectives and focus on finding solutions instead of fixating on their problems.
Set a specific period in your day in which you allow yourself to feel worried and write down everything that troubles you. That way, you can plan what to do about it and you won’t have negative thoughts popping up throughout the day.
Time is a tricky thing; sometimes it flies by, yet other times it seems to freeze. But right now, let’s honor the moment by enjoying it as much as we can. Let’s make our lives count. If you’re reading this, it means you’re alive… do you need another reason to stop worrying so much and just enjoy it?
Remember, you decide how you’re going to live… so choose now.