10 Ways to Find the Present Moment

The Present Moment

Is your mind always racing? Do you spend time focusing on what might happen more than what is actually happening right now? Perhaps you need a bit of help staying present, otherwise known as practicing mindfulness.

Each day we are bombarded with social media feeds telling us where we should be, advertisements telling us what we are missing, and peers asking our plans for the weekend.

All of this combined creates a panic in our mind. We lose sense of our present moment.

It is proven time and time again that practicing mindfulness can have tremendous effects on our lives. You can benefit from it too!

Traditionally, meditation is a common practice to help you stay present. Below are 10 Practices other than meditation that can help you stay right here, right now.

10 Practices to Stay Present

1. Writing

When you write, your mind let’s go of everything except for the sheet of paper in front of you and your hand holding the pen. Since writing utilizes your organizational skills, creativity and physical attention, your mind has no choice but to be purely focused on this one activity.

Just like meditation, writing keeps you present. And you never know, maybe you’ll discover you are the second coming of Shakespeare!

2. Swimming

You experience multiple sensations when you are swimming, like water gliding past your skin as you freestyle. You also experience sound in a unique way whilst underwater from splashing and currents. In addition, you can feel your muscles contracting then relaxing from the constant movement and stretching of your body.

During a standard meditation practice, we typically ask ourselves to pay attention to different sensations we experience. Swimming has that same effect if you focus on the sensations mentioned above. This is a great practice to help you stay present.

3. Breathing Exercises

The breath is one of the main components of meditation. There are various practices that are known to help you stay present.

Alternate nostril breathing is one of them. More on this impactful practice here.







4. Hiking

There’s a reason why they say there is nothing better than the great outdoors. When out in nature, you get the chance to see, smell and feel all the natural beauty that is around you.

Smelling fresh pine, gazing at various colors of flowers and feeling that cool mountain breeze are great practices to keep you in the present moment.

5. Bathing

Sometimes all you need is a nice warm shower or bath. Just like swimming, the sensations of hot water dropping on your body can help you stay in the present moment.

6. Chess

Chess requires its players to use a great deal of concentration to succeed.

There is no space in the mind for anything else but the chess board in front of its players.

With an occupied mind on the game in front of you, it is easy to see how chess can be a perfect tool for staying present.

7. Yoga

Yoga is not only an excellent workout, but also a great exercise to connect you to the present moment. Since yoga involves difficult squats, stretches, twists and turns, your mind has no choice but to focus on these movements so you do not fall over.

From personal experience, every time I exit a yoga class I tend to feel more aligned not only physically but mentally. Yoga is a great practice to stay present.

8. People Watching

Depending on where you live, foot traffic may be very common or more like a deserted western town. If you live in a place where it is common, take a few moments to stop and observe.

Notice all the faces you cross by or the conversations that flow in and out with the wind. Even just a few minutes of doing this exercise could send you right back to the present.

9. Painting

The experience while painting can be a very similar experience to writing. While painting, you are able to fully express yourself on the canvas in front of you. It is a great way to express yourself and get in touch with your emotional state of mind.

There is no doubt that painting has a great knack for focusing your awareness to the present.

10. Singing

While you may not be the next Celine Dion, that should not discourage you from singing. When you sing, you are letting go of all your worries and not caring about how you look or sound. It is purely all about expression.

There is nothing else to think about but the current song you are singing. And just like meditation, focusing only on the song you are singing keeps you present.

These are just some of the many practices you can pursue to keep you present.

If you are interested in traditional meditation, click here for a course by famous blogger and meditator Giovanni Dienstmann.





