The past is a memory, the future is imaginary, the only time we have to live is right now (and how many of us waste that time worrying about how little time we have.)
Perhaps the most important behaviour we can practice to save our time is mindful presence.
Mindful presence is paying attention to what's going on right now - noticing not only what is happening circumstantially but also how we are a reacting to it (thoughts, emotions, bodily sensations etc.). By opening our awareness to all this we give our selves the best chance of making more skilled decisions and using our time well.
try these 3 simple tips to become more present
- Make what you're doing the most important thing in the world - if we practice doing this when the most important thing comes a long we'll be ready) - this doesn't mean stressing out or putting extra pressure on ourselves - quite the opposite. It's about offering ourselves fully to the moment- focusing exclusively at the task at hand and making sure we do it well - this can be from washing the dishes to writing an essay to finishing a project at work - the more often we practice focusing our attention on the task at hand the more likely we are to complete that task to the best or our ability - and the more often we're out our best the more fulfilling our life becomes.
- Transition mindfully - as you shift gear from work, to home to gym, take a deep breath - tune in with your body, take a moment to "close" your time on that particular part of the day and set your intention for the next.
- Use the breath to come back to the body - the body always lives in the present - the mind can often dwell on the future, the past, another place or another time but the body is always right here. If you find your mind has wandered of and you want to bring your focus back into the moment take a deep breath and feel it as it enters your body, take notice of your posture and any other sensations you feel in your body and bring your mind back to the task at hand.