As we’re (hopefully) about to transfer to Alert Level 2, it gets harder not to look forward to the upcoming weeks and getting back to ‘normal’ too much. We asked life coach Angelena Davies what does it mean to be present and why is it so important for our mental health.
When you are being present, it means that you are not in your thinking head. Thinking head is remembering to follow up that email, pick up that ingredient for dinner, or worrying about how to word that difficult conversation.
When you are present you are Right Here, in This Present Moment. We usually access this by tuning into our senses: what we can hear, smell, taste, feel.
Obviously, you are not going to be present ALL the time – engaging your cognitive mind at certain times is helpful (you need that cumin for the curry!) However, it is crucial that you switch it off multiple times during the day. Yes, multiple.
Don’t panic, you don’t need large chunks of time to do this (phew, feel your shoulders drop). You can just switch off your thinking and tune into your senses during your everyday activities, for example, when brushing your teeth, chopping an onion or putting on moisturiser.
You might like this article: Best night-time skincare products.
Studies show that even a few minutes of shutting off the thinking (being present) can help relieve stress, overwhelm and anxiety; we become less reactive and more connected and have more flow in our lives. Cue happiness. Cue ease.
It’s easy to see how being present is actually A Present. A gift for you.