Presence in the moment means being “mindful” and “aware” of our surroundings.
The “here and now”. The point that exists mostly in distraction with our past or future events. It is in our control but underrated.
An intricate, valuable, and rewarding experience. It improves our productivity and relationships. It brings in good judgment, success, and happiness.
The consequences of not being present often go “unnoticed for a long time” and manifest into strong habits. It is a feeling of exhaustion, overwhelm, stress, anxiety, and absenteeism deep-rooted with past regrets or future worries. Our sheer inability to “switch-off” to seek joy.
This doesn’t mean that one doesn’t learn from past experiences. It simply means complete focus and attention to the current events. “Give it your best shot” as if there is no tomorrow.
Stop distractions:
Train yourself to function with minimum distractions, especially technology. Turn off the laptop and silence your phone before an important meeting. In a one to one conversation, pay complete attention to the purpose, the task, and the person. Simple habits to demonstrate personal attention are eye to eye contact, active listening, rephrasing, and limited usage of message apps.
Be it at home or at work, being “mentally” and “visibly involved” is important to strengthen your relationships.
“Remember then: there is only one time that is important- Now! It is the most important time because it is the only time when we have any power.” Leo Tolstoy
Reduce mental and physical clutter:
Clutter distracts. Builds “noise with no signal”. Hoarding, holding on to an occurrence or a feeling, and wandering defocused. Decluttering emphasizes “the real and the important”.
“The difference between successful and really successful people is that really successful people say a no to almost everything.” Warren Buffett
Stop multitasking:
The constant back and forth between different tasks creates unnecessary stress and limits productivity. Multitasking reduces efficiency and effectiveness.
Behavior change by setting a series of “short-term goals” and “nudge”:
A series of short-term goals and small wins feed into long-term success. Nudge ensure staying on track.
The journey to know oneself starts with dedicating self-time, self- rumination, and tranquillity. It is a firm path to mindfulness and peace.
“I have realized that the past and future are real illusions, that they exist in the present, which is what there is and all there is.” Alan Watt
Share your experiences or tips that help you stay mindful. How did it create an impact on your work, relationships, and happiness?
If it resonates with you- share, like, or comment on the article.
Author Credit: Meenakshi Iyengar
