You will not believe it, but possibly most of your life you have spent being kidnapped by your thoughts of the past and future, worrying about yesterday or suffering for what will come later, without being present in the only real moment where your life exists: the present moment, the famous Here and Now.
In addition, I know it sounds very trivial, but I assure you that when I began to practice living in the present moment. It was a clear distinction of before and after for me, and I began to truly live.
Do you dare to try it?
Here are some tips to put into practice in your day-to-day. They are a simple beginning of the practice of mindfulness, which you can later expand with a more profound practice if you wish, but the most important thing is to start changing now.
It is the best gift you can give yourself and yours.
When you wake up, do not automatically jump out of bed. Please take 5 minutes to observe your body and to breathe as they automatically bring you to the present moment. Just notice your body and mind and rest your attention on your breath for a few seconds without trying to change anything.
Then pay attention through your five senses in everything you do: have breakfast, shower, talk, hug, kiss your loved ones. Feel the touch of water on the skin, the texture of the food, the temperature, the smells, observe the colors, notice the contact and weight of things…. Don’t let your thoughts take you away from your moment of enjoyment.
Set the alarm on your cell phone that reminds you to take a brief stop for 1 to 10 mindful breaths several times a day.
In this way, you allow your body and mind to regain their balance. That is to say, get out of the automatic pilot and the continuous stress that we are all subjected to in a constant rush. That brief stop allows you to recover and continue from a more significant state of calm and mental clarity.
Believe me! It is amazing what a few breaths can do for you and your condition. Try to breathe in slowly, allowing the exhalation to be as long as possible. Notice how your mind and body relax.
Get out of multitasking.
Focus your attention on one thing at a time and enjoy being present as you do it without looking at the result. Choose your priorities, distinguishing what is important from what is urgent.
Take advantage of each change of activity to stop, breathe, and from there, focus on the new task.
I take advantage of each journey by car, subway, bus to breathe and regain my mental calm. Before getting off or once in the car or public transport, I breathe and prepare for my next task.
Try within your means to minimize the time you spend on electronic devices. You can save a lot of mental noise and time. Choose two or three periods a day where you dedicate your attention to reading and answering emails or calls.
Take care of your body by exercising and take care of your mind by giving them the necessary hours of rest. Sleep is restorative, do not forget it.
Learn to do absolutely nothing at some point during the day, perhaps at the end of the workday. Allow your mind and body to rest. We believe that if we fill all the time with activities we will be more productive and it is not like that.
At first, it may seem impossible to stop so often. It is a matter of starting with small moments and gradually expanding. You will realize how your mind constantly hijacks you and does not let you enjoy moment by moment.
Do not wait for the weekend or the holidays to begin to regain the ability to be present and enjoy your day-to-day.
I invite you to put into practice these small tips that, although they seem very simple, can make a significant change in your quality of daily life…
Do not hesitate to share your experience with me. I will be happy to accompany you!