5 WAYS TO STAY PRESENT AND MAKE THE MOST OUT OF YOUR LIFE

Do you find yourself speeding through life? No matter how busy you are, remember that the present is all that you really have.


BY: VICTORIA YATES, RN

Not to be morbid, but if your life ended today, how would you feel about the time that you spent on earth? When it’s all said and done, it’s probably the little things in life that often bring you the most happiness.

Yet these are the moments that get lost in the shuffle of daily life.

If you’re a go-getter in life, all that chasing can get the best of you. In fact, when you’re always chasing the dream, it’s easy to forget about your reality: the presentHere’s how you can get back to what matters most.

1. Get back to the here and now.

While there’s nothing wrong with planning ahead, it’s easy to get caught up thinking about the future. But in order to get to the future, you still have to be present now because it’s all that you’re able to influence at the moment. And if you miss the moment, it’s gone and there’s no getting it back.  When life feels crazy around you and you feel like you’re doing all you can to run by the seat of your pants, remember the moment and return back to it.

2. Step away from social media.

One area to consider minimizing is social media. While it can help keep you updated on your friends and family, it can also lead to chasing future moments instead of the present. Social media leads us to imagine what our lives could be like, instead of leaning in to the moment at hand. It deprives us of the moment and leaves us grasping with envy at what other people have and what we think will make us happy.

3. Journal your thoughts.

Instead of social media time, consider journaling more often. Start your day off with positive intentions, devotional reading, and journaling about what you’re struggling or rejoicing in.  Journaling can often ground you in the moment, and helps you see the silver lining during difficult times while being grateful for the good. This time to pause helps you slow down and reflect on what really matters in life.

4. Value relationships.

Putting relationships with people above your own agenda helps you remember that it’s the people in your lives who matter.  This is something that can easily get pushed away when we crowd our life with work. But remember, work will always be there, and the push to do more won’t stop. But people won’t always be in your life. They will come and go, and it’s our job and our design to be in relationships with others. That is what will bring you the most joy, not meeting a deadline or filling up your life with too many “extras.”

5. Healthy thoughts are present thoughts.

From spending too much time working out to worrying over social outings that won’t fit their restricted diet, excessive energy is wasted if you’re going to the extreme to be healthy. You may feel alone during that process as you strive to adhere to a diet or exercise plan to change your body. All the while, you may be losing opportunities to fill it with more lasting, meaningful moments. Instead, fill your life with what’s already around you, and seek to be complete by treasuring the “here and now” instead of the “one day”.

You owe it to yourself to put your thoughts, energy, and emotions on the things that truly matter in life.

Adapted from the original article.
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Victoria Yates, RN is a Registered Nurse & Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor based in Westchester, NY who focuses on helping women reach a healthier relationship with food and their bodies. She is passionate about guiding others reprogram negative thoughts around food and body image so they may experience a truly joyful life. Learn more about Victoria Yates Nutrition.