Learn How to Be More Present in 10 Simple Ways
Sometimes, the best gift you can give to yourself and your loved ones comes without a price tag. Here, Elizabeth Winkler, MA, LMFT—a therapist and certified meditation teacher in Beverly Hills—guides us on how to be more present.
First, what does it mean to be present?
In essence, Elizabeth says being present means being grounded in the here and now.
To connect with the present, she begins, “Simply ponder: How do I know my body is here? This is your presence; your awareness. Spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle calls it the Power of Now, and I call it the power of presence.”
Why is it important to be present?
I know—you might have your defenses up about the importance of staying present. After all, the past has a major impact on us all. And of course, we have goals and desires (and tasks and to-dos) for the future.
So why should we step back, quiet our busy minds, and tune into the immediate environment?
Presence Is the Foundation for Your Future
“All of life is happening in this present moment. So in order for you to make shifts and manifest your dreams, you must be able to access presence,” Elizabeth explains.
“When you perfect this skill, presence becomes your superpower.”
Presence Promotes Positivity
Next, we have anywhere from 6,000 to 70,000 thoughts per day. And no matter where yours fall on this spectrum, it’s still a whole lot—and they tend to accelerate in a ripple effect.
“These thoughts move through your mind like drops of water,” Elizabeth begins. “We know that where attention goes, energy flows. When we focus our attention on a worrying thought, this drop of water quickly becomes a thought stream, river, or ocean of worry. We find ourselves drowning in this ocean of worries, feeling lost and isolated.”
Essentially, when you learn how to be more present, you’ll be able to make room for more positive thoughts, sensations, and experiences.
Benefits of Staying Present
Staying present is a major tenet of mindfulness and meditation.
Elizabeth outlines the benefits of such practices, which include:
- lower cortisol levels
- decreased stress
- better sleep
- more creativity
- increased focus + attention
- less reactivity
- a wider capacity to tolerate emotional challenges
“Additionally, through meditation and mindfulness, we become skillful at the power we give to each passing thought and become more grounded in the present moment,” she continues.
Further, she explains that the rewards are closely within reach. “I’ve seen quick, effective, and life-changing results from incorporating mindfulness into my therapeutic process. This is why I call mindfulness the bullet train to freedom.”
How to Be More Present
Ready to reap the calming and fulfilling benefits shared above? Here are 10 simple ways to be more present.
1. Use Your Phone Less
It’s no surprise that smartphones and social media are among the prime sources that distract us from staying present. Searching and scrolling easily becomes an automatic, passive activity that’s far from the mindfulness needed to experience life off of our screens.
In fact, 2020 data suggests that the average person will spend nearly seven years of their life on social media. With so much time inundated by brand messaging, peering at the lives of others, and refashioning your own image, you’re missing out on the richness of IRL experience.
For that reason, consider spending less time on social media and more time engaged in more rewarding activities.
2. Connect with Your Immediate Surroundings
Piggybacking off the tip above, the next time you’d typically reach for your phone—say, while waiting for an appointment or as a passenger in a car—opt not to.
As an alternative, swap stimulation in favor of simplicity.
“Instead of checking your phone or social media, use this as an opportunity to disconnect with your device and reconnect with the present moment,” Elizabeth suggests.
“Notice the sky, how the clouds move, or the nature that surrounds us. Noticing our environment helps us to witness our energy flow and can lead to profound states of clarity.”
3. Give Your Undivided Attention
Next, in the same vein, prize high-quality human connection.
Being an active, engaged listener is one of the best ways to stay present in the company of others. Give your full attention to the people you’re with, and let other thoughts and tasks wait for later.
4. Avoid Multitasking
While many of us like to multitask to save time and feel productive, the risks might very well outweigh the anticipated rewards.
According to a review by Psychology Today, multitasking doesn’t only distract us—distraction being the polar opposite of mindful presence—but can also put us at risk for:
- more stress
- less efficiency
- poorer memory and emotion regulation
- reduced relationship satisfaction
- greater susceptibility to injury
To stay present and prevent these potential pitfalls, devote your attention to one thing at a time. After all, when was the last time you benefited from spreading yourself thin?
5. Take More Breaks
You’ll find that stress, fatigue, and burnout are major challenges when learning how to be more present. For that reason, remember to give yourself adequate time to take a step back.
“Our biggest challenge is remembering to take necessary breaks and slow down,” Elizabeth notes, especially when it comes to our work lives.
To rest and regroup, she suggests setting reminders to pause and step away from your work. From there, you’ll be better able to concentrate on your tasks at hand and incorporate mindfulness into your work life.
6. Hit Pause
The next time anger, sadness, or other negative feelings kick in, stop yourself in your tracks.
“Being emotionally activated invites a range of feelings,” Elizabeth shares. Before permitting your base impulses to add insult to injury, momentarily disengage.
“Take a moment to pause in the emotion. Notice all that is around you and settle into a calmer state.” From there, you’ll act from a steadier state of mind and can thoughtfully move forward.
7. Breathe More
As basic and automatic as breathing is, mindfully breathing is one of the best ways to be more present.
“Breath is our constant companion that places us on the fast track to presence,” Elizabeth elucidates. “We can handle the daily stressors, emotional triggers, and life’s inevitable curveballs that change the weather within us by incorporating pause practices to reconnect with our breath.”
Whether you do formulaic breathwork (perhaps the Wim Hof Method or box breathing) or a more simple DIY, pacing your inhales and exhales is an excellent practice to encourage living in the present moment.
Elizabeth particularly recommends still-point breathing, in which you “notice the still point (or the gap) at the end of each exhale. This invites deeper, more intentional modes of breathing, which calms and centers the body and mind.”
8. Practice Meditation
As we discussed above (and many times before), meditating is one of the best ways to stay present, be mindful, and otherwise enrich your life.
“Meditation helps calm the mind and center the heart, inviting a state of resilience and, therefore, gratitude,” Elizabeth notes.
Luckily, if you’re new to meditation techniques or prefer guidance, there’s no shortage of meditation apps to use.
9. Eat Mindfully
Practicing mindful eating is one of the easiest techniques for staying in the present moment at least a few times each day.
Mindful eating entails:
- clearing your mealtime of distractions
- slowing down to enjoy your experience
- chewing slowly
- tuning into the taste and texture of your food
- cultivating gratitude for your nourishment
Essentially, it boils down to listening to your body and feeding it accordingly. And in order to do that successfully, staying present is key.
10. Find Joy in the Small Things
Last but not least, being more present means seeing magnificence in the mundane.
“Joy can be found in the smallest of moments,” Elizabeth explains. “Take time to notice nature, such as a fluttering butterfly or the rustling of leaves in the trees. Even for a moment, it’s so rewarding.”
Of course, this act of observation and tuning in can easily apply to any experience that arises throughout your day.
Final Thoughts
In sum, the benefits of staying present aren’t only for New Age enthusiasts or the spiritually enlightened. You don’t need to aspire to Buddha-like levels of sagacity and stillness.
Instead, allow yourself to grow open to the many joys of life. They’ve likely always been there, but you might have missed them amidst the hustle and bustle of modern life.
“It may sound simple, but [these] little activations can help ground and center you for the day ahead,” Elizabeth reiterates. And fortunately, “You can always rely on presence. It never leaves you, and its depth is endless.”
So what are you waiting for? Ritualize these practices, stay consistent, and find your groove.
When you learn how to be more present, joy can extend to every aspect of your life—from dawn to dusk, and from this very moment into old age. Whether you delight in the crispness of your sheets, the warmth of the sun on your skin, the sound of a friend’s laughter, or the good fortune of good health, presence is the gift that keeps on giving.
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