How To Practice Living In The Present Moment

Life always happens in the present moment, whether we are aware of it or not. Living in the present moment is one of the key factors that will decide the quality of your life. I think it is safe to say that most of us spend a lot of time thinking about either the past or the future. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it can actually be a great thing if you can visualize the kind of life you desire to build. However, not all past or present thoughts that we have, are pleasant. Sometimes depending on the nature of our dwellings, it can really drag us down both mentally and physically.

I think we can all agree that all human beings fundamentally want the same thing and that’s to be happy. And if you truly want to be happy in life, you need to be living in the present moment right here right now than in some distant memory in your head or some future state of mind. 

So how can you practice living in the present moment?

Below are some practical things you can practice daily to feel more alive and present in the right now.

1. Practice doing every activity deliberately 

We run through multiple daily tasks like a machine just to be done with it. What if I told you it is possible to do every activity you do consciously and with more awareness? This might not sound too exciting to you but it is still very much a possibility to enjoy the most mundane activities of life such as washing the dishes and cleaning your home. 

2. Accept what you do not know

We all want to know everything about our lives and to have clarity on all aspects of our lives such as relationships, career, family, etc especially if it’s something we have an emotional attachment to. But our ability to know things is just limited to our own five senses. Much of not living in the present moment is anxiety and fear thinking about the past or future. If you can slowly learn to accept that it is okay to not know everything about your lives and trust that the truth about things will always reveal if it matters, you will have a lot more energy to enjoy the present moment and live your life more deliberately. 

3. Create a mindfulness morning routine

I cannot stress enough on this one. At least in my journey of spiritual growth, this has been the foundation of everything else. This routine will be different for everyone, especially as you continue and grow in your own time. This can come in the form of habits and practices you consciously put yourself through every day. For instance, I can recommend a morning routine that looks like waking up, not checking your phone, yoga practice, cold shower, meditation, some reading with coffee, breakfast, and then onto your day. Now, this is something I recommend but you can always make some changes to fit your personal development and goals. 

4. Set an intention for your tasks

Right before you start whatever task you’re about to do, pause for a moment and think for yourself why you are doing that. For instance, I do my morning routine out of love for my well-being and to be a better person to other people in my life. I do the dishes and clean my house because I love the feeling of a clean space where I can live and create. I am writing this blog post because I want to be able to help as many people as I can to live a happier and healthier life. I do not doubt that you also like me have a reason why you do anything. Just being aware of it before you start can help you do that task with greater awareness.

5. Reflect Daily

If you’re a yoga practitioner, you would have come across the term ‘Shavasana’ which is the final pose that you come to at the end of each practice. It’s just laying down flat on your mat to observe and let the body feel all the sensations after the practice while being aware of it. This pose is just as important as any other pose in your practice. Daily reflection is just like that, at the end of your day before going to bed, just take a moment to reflect on how you spent your day without judgment and remind yourself to do even better the next day. 

It’s small and regular practices like this that you do daily which can over time contribute to your overall well-being and remind you to stay more present. A life lived with full awareness of the present moment is the most beautiful feeling you can experience. And the present moment is the only true place where life is happening. All past thoughts and future anxieties are illusions that your mind shows you. It is time to get out of our own mental space and observe it from a distance.