Being present means to be aware of your surroundings.
At first, that may sound odd, but when you think about it, how many people go about their daily lives without stopping to admire what’s around them.
Whenever people get old or seriously sick, they always make it a point to “stop and smell the roses.” But, you don’t have to wait for old age to start doing that.
By being more present, you will develop both a greater appreciating for life and for all the beauty that surrounds you.
With that in mind, here are 3 ways to be more present in your day-to-day life.
1) Listen to classical music
Not everyone out there is a fan of classical music, and I get that.
But, because of the lack of lyrics and the lack of heavy instruments like guitars and drums, classical music is somewhat unique in its ability to soothe the mind.
So, even if you think that you aren’t a fan of classical music, it might still be worthwhile to look around and see if you can’t find some classical music that appeals to you.
There is a growing trend of people buying and listening to calm music, whatever the genre.
Being able to just focus on music, without listening to lyrics, is a great way to be more present.
While listening to the music you can focus on your surroundings, clear your mind, etc.
2) Meditate and/or do yoga
If you want to pay greater attention to your surroundings, then you can’t really do better than yoga or meditation (ideally, you’d do both).
Yoga and meditation both require you to learn crucial skills such as controlled breathing, how to clear your mind and focus, etc.
These skills are important if you want to be more present in your day-to-day life (also, yoga doubles as great exercise, so there is added incentive to pick it up).
On top of that it’s getting really cool to get involved in them these days.
3) Develop rituals and appreciate them
One of the best things you can do to be more present is to develop rituals and actually appreciate doing them.
For example, if you are like most people, you probably start your day by drinking coffee. Starting now, instead of drinking your coffee while scrambling around to get ready for work or checking your emails, sit outside and drink your coffee.
You can sit there and take in your surroundings for 10-15 minutes before continuing on with your day.
Likewise, on your commute to work, don’t spend the entire commute looking at your phone.
Actually take in the sights as you ride the bus, train, etc.
These may sound like minor things, but they all teach you to be more perceptive and aware of your surroundings.