My son Oscar turned two this week. All I could think about was where had the time gone? How was it possible that my baby is now a toddler?
I remember when Oscar was first born, people would stop Mark and I in the street and congratulate us and say “make sure you enjoy every minute, it goes so fast”
Those comments have stuck with me, as literally every parent said the same thing. So I did exactly that, I enjoyed and soaked up every minute with Oscar. But still I find myself today feeling sad as I look back at pictures and videos of the past two years. It has got me thinking about time, and how nothing ever stays the same, we are all constantly evolving. One of my favorite quotes is
“The only constant in life is change” -Heraclitus
As a life coach, I try to share with my clients the idea of living in the present moment. Not yesterday, not tomorrow just today, right now. However, this idea is much easier in theory. We are all constantly worried about the future or regretful about the past. Most of the time we are letting incredible moments pass us by because we are not sitting still in the moment.
Here are some of my favorite ways to stay present in the now:
Be in your body: Check in with yourself and see how you are feeling. Be aware of any stress of pain and try to resolve it then and there, rather than fighting through It or trying to soldier on. Take deep breaths try and relax. This will help you to connect and heal your body.
Detach from devices: Rather than looking at photos of your kids or on Instagram of other people’s lives, take a look at what is directly in front of you. Phones and computers can be distractions. Put them away so you will not be tempted, and actually participate in your life.
Take your time: Don’t rush through life. It is not a destination; it is a journey. Try and savor each moment and don’t wish it away. If you can allow yourself a few minutes between each task. Complete the first one, allow yourself to process and then leave it and move onto the next.
Write in your journal: In the morning take a few minutes to write down your thoughts before you start doing anything. There is no right or wrong, it is literally just your stream of consciousness. By removing the thoughts from your heard and putting them down on paper allows you to express them and move on.