HOLISTIC TRAINING - LIVE IN THE PRESENT

Here's an article I found in a swedish newspaper a while ago. I like the simple examples in the text of what we can do to increase presence and that it also brings up what I view (in most cases) as the biggest "threat" to live an exciting, constantly learning, dynamic life - ROUTINES. Once you're doing something purely on routine you stop to learn, minutes, hours, days, weeks float together and suddenly years are just flying by. Change can sometimes be uncomfortable and hard but it's crucial to avoid becoming a "creature of habit"!


Use your senses
Much of what we do in life is made of pure routine. But try to occasionally stop and really feel that your senses perceive. Focus on the feeling of water against your skin when you shower, the smell of freshly baked bread when you walk past the bakery or the sound of cars that rushes past outside the window. It forces you to find yourself completely in the present.

Know your emotions
From childhood we have learned to restrain our emotions and in some situations it is useful to be able to control your temper. But the risk is that we do not allow us to feel anything at all without becoming emotional blunting. Ask yourself regularly: "What do I feel at this moment?" Practice that and don't immediately push away feelings of irriation and disappointment, and make sure to enjoy and be grateful for the wonderful moments in life.

Breaking habits
Humans are creatures of habit and tend to do things on routine. This is a valuable feature that enables us to avoid thinking through each step when we are performing a task. But to get out of autopilot mode, it is important to occasionally test new ways of doing things. It can be something as simple as getting off the bus one stop earlier or start at the other end of the grocery store when you shop. Anything that stimulates the brain and makes you more present.

Trim to-do list
It takes energy to be able to live life to its fullest. A major threat to the ability to be in the moment is to constantly be weighed down by an over-filled to-do list, says coach Jane Herman. The first step towards breaking this trend is to write down everything you need to do on paper - then at least you avoid the stress of keeping everything in your head. But equally important is to take a critical look at your list. Do you really need to do everything you've written down? Is there anything you can skip or delegate? Remember that you do not have to say yes to everything.

Stop doing two things at once
To live in the moment means focusing attention on what you are doing right now. If you ever do two things at once - driving while talking on the phone, reading while eating or watching TV while you are writing e-mails - you can never be completely present. To constantly switch back and forth between two tasks also tires out the brain.

...Routines are of course not always "bad". Especially when it comes to healthy eating patterns and physical activity!