Be in the Present

When you're sitting in class or you're at work, what are you thinking? I can tell you that I'm usually either thinking, "What should I eat for lunch?" or "What show should I watch when I get home today?"

We're always thinking about what to do next or about something that's happened already. It's hard for many of us to really be present in the moment and we don't even realize it. When you're thinking, "Wow, I'm really happy my boyfriend texted me this morning" while you're folding shirts at your job at H&M, you're not truly present. You are in the past.

When you're in the past or the future, you're missing out on what's happening right in front of you. If you're at work, the consequence of being in your thoughts or "zoning out" may be missing important instructions from your manager.

There are ways you can stay present in the moment and avoid wandering off mentally. That is through meditation and mindfulness.

Mindfulness

Mindfulness is the state of being conscious or aware of something.

Here are some mindfulness exercises you can practice to stay present:

Name five things you hear, see, smell, taste, and feel
Set an alarm at a specific time to remind yourself to be present
Look for an object to ground you, such as a bird in the sky. View it as a reminder to be present
Yoga is a practice in which you must be mindful of your movements

Meditation

Meditation is training the mind to be in a relaxed state. It is a form of mindfulness.

There are many benefits of meditation:

Brings us into the present moment
Relaxes us
Relieves stress
Helps us refocus

There are also different ways to meditate:

With eyes opened or closed, inhale for 5 seconds and exhale for 7 seconds. This is called square breathing.
Listen to music
Take walks
Aromatherapy; smelling something that is pleasing to the senses such as lavender, which is known to soothe anxiety

If you need any more tips on staying present or relieving stress, visit the Wellness Center at D-102!

-Amanda Blando

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