Preparedness
As my town is being effected by Hurricane Henri, it got me thinking about preparedness. We are bombarded with messages about how to prepare. How to prepare for a storm. How to prepare for going back to school. How to prepare for vacation. How to prepare for having kids. How to prepare for retirement. All these “helpful tips” can provide some useful guidance, but at the same time, it leads us to look to the future. One of the cornerstones of mindfulness is being present in the moment. If we are constantly planning for the future, when do we stop and pay attention to the now?
Don’t get me wrong, if a hurricane is heading your way, making sure you are safe and have several days of food and water is the appropriate course of action. Also, I strongly believe knowledge is power, so I am not advocating to stick your head in the sand either. As with many things in life, balance is required. If you have a big event or life milestone coming up, it is a good idea to do some research and learn about how to prepare. However, do not spend so much time preparing for the future that you forget to live in the present. It can be easy to spend so much of your time looking to the horizon that you miss the beauty of the journey.
If you feel like being present and enjoying the here and now is something you need to do more, that’s okay. After all, practice makes better! Some simple ways to strengthen your focus on the present are mindfulness exercises. Here are a few ideas to try:
Savor Something - Next time you sit down for a meal, really pay attention to all your senses. How does the meal look? What do you smell? As you take your first bite, what are the flavors, texture, temperature of the food? Focus on the experience.
Breathing Exercises - One form of meditation is doing breathing exercises. Click on the link for a few different breathing exercises to try.
Forget Multi-tasking - Instead of juggling multiple tasks at once, just focus on one thing at a time. When we given our mind and body to one specific event, we become more engaged and present. So next time you’re watching TV, put down your phone or try driving without music.
Put Your Phone Away - Our phones are amazing tools that support many aspects of modern life, but with all the pings, alerts and click bait, phones are a major distraction. Try to designate regular time when you go off the grid and put your phone on do not disturb and forget about it for an hour or two. You might be surprised at how much don’t miss in your own life when you forget about keeping up with everything through your phone.
Remember, planning for your future is wise and appropriate. Also, I love a to-do list! And these examples of how to be more present are tools I use because we all need to remember to not let the future or our tasks distract us from our lives. Life is happening whether or not you are paying attention.
Kate Bender is a dual-certified Psychiatric Mental Health and Adult Nurse Practitioner. She knows, firsthand, life is messy and hard. Sometimes people need support and help from a professional. When working with Kate, your mental health will be compassionately addressed in a manner that honors your mind, body, and spirit. She lives with her family on the shoreline in Old Saybrook, Connecticut.