How to live more in the moment

Methods to help slow things down and stop you from feeling as though life and time are passing you by

CREDIT: This is an edited version of an article that originally appeared on Happiful

Do you remember how long the summer holidays felt when you were a kid? Weeks felt like years and the next school term was a distant dream. Nowadays, weeks seem to shrink and suddenly we find ourselves in disbelief that another year has gone. 

As adults, we have fewer new experiences, and learn at a slower pace, which allows our days to become more predictable and blend together. So what can we do to slow down our perception of time?

1. New experiences – try to incorporate spontaneity into your life – take trips, explore new places, learn a new skill and meet new people! If this sounds a little hard to achieve, you could simply find a new route to work or message an old friend. Tap into your inner child. Ask ‘Why?’ more often and say ‘Yes’ to more things (even when it scares you)!

2. Pay more attention – practising mindfulness will help you notice and appreciate smaller things. Savouring a moment will help you enjoy every detail of something and engage all your senses. Move yourself out of auto-pilot and into the present.

3. Single-tasking – doing many things at once (or trying to) can make time feel like it is going by faster. Single-tasking encourages us to focus on one thing at a time, which will also improve productivity. So, next time you have something to do, shut out any distractions and focus on only that task.

4. White space – cramming our schedules and to-do lists with as many things as possible will make our days feel rushed. To change this, intentionally carve out white space – space to do nothing, just listen to music or daydream. When we do this, we stimulate the default mode network in our brain which acts like a factory reset, helping us to recognise how we’re feeling and where we’re ‘at’.

5. Reflection – finding a way to reflect on your days helps to capture the passing of time and give it the weight of significance it deserves. Journaling, drawing, scrapbooking, or even just chatting about your day with a loved one, are all great practices.