Tips to stay in now

“No yesterdays are ever wasted for those who give themselves to today.” ~Brendan Francis

Anyone can be mindful for a moment or two, but developing your mindfulness muscle means that you have to take things to a higher level.

In today’s world it’s all too easy to get distracted from what’s truly important. Wherever you go, and whatever you do, you see messages designed to get you to perform a specific action and distract you from the fact that you are already whole.

There are no reminders to be mindful unless we create them.

The responsibility is in your hands. Staying in the present moment can dramatically reduce stress, increase your happiness, and give you bursts of insight that might change your life.

Here are a few down-to-earth tips on how to become more mindful:

1. Watch your thoughts.

What kind of thoughts tend to rob you of the now?

These questions will help you become more mindful about what is going on in your head, which in turn leads to mindfulness.

A few examples of tendencies that are very common are:

• anxiety
• worry
• regret
• guilt
• fear
• pleasure seeking

A great tip is to write down your thoughts and how they tease you out of the now. Grab a piece of pen and paper, and just do it.

2. Watch your breath.

Your breath is a powerful and simple way to anchor yourself in the present moment.

Whenever you are having a hard time staying in the now, take deep breaths, and focus on your breathing. 

3. Create watch reminders.

Another great way to stay anchored in the now is to use reminders. 

It can be as simple as tying a white string around your wrist. Each time you look at the white string, you are reminded of the present moment. Are you in the now, or are you somewhere else?

There are no limits to what you can use as a reminder. If you want to take this even further, you can add a new reminder each week. Start using external reminders such as red cars, billboards, and so on. If you keep doing this, you will be astonished at the results.

4. Be determined.

Increasing the time you spend in the present moment can be a lot of work. If you’re serious about becoming more mindful, you have to be determined. There will be times when you feel like you want to throw in the towel. You will face challenges, obstacles, and problems. But if you’re determined, you will get through them. They are nothing but teachers on your path.

When you make becoming more mindful one of your main goals, you simply cannot fail.

5. Follow your passion.

The more you follow your passion the more you'd be able to stay in the now.