10 Ways to Stay with Today

“Most of the time, we are lost in the past or carried away by the future,” says Thich Nhat Hanh, a Buddhist monk and poet. Staying present will bring a more peaceful, joy-filled life. Try these 10 ways.

1. Pay attention to the details:
Notice the food you eat, the sun on your back, the quality of the light; literally stop to smell the roses.

2. Make a list of what you want to accomplish today. List only the portion of a major project that can be completed today. Include pleasures as well as tasks.

3. Concentrate on the task at hand, not the outcome. Give it your best, knowing there is no perfect outcome.

4. Write “morning pages,” author Julia Cameron’s method to empty your mind of worry and chatter. Three non-stop pages every morning,  rst thing.

5. Let thoughts and feelings come and go without judging. Neither cling to nor reject them.

6. Don’t hang onto mistakes. Fix what needs  xing, then move on.

7. Make notes to yourself.
Jot things down so you don't forget them. Don’t try to juggle everything in your mind.

8. Be where you are. When you find yourself drifting off elsewhere, a gentle reminder to “be present” can help.

9. Take a moment to transition yourself from place to place and task to task.

10. Let go of the past. Make amends, forgive, grieve. Ask for help if you’re unable to let go. *