Future Wellbeing Archives - Page 30 of 38

How The Past And The Future Can Get In The Way

What takes people away from living in the moment is focussing heavily on the past or future. From the past, this could be remembering a bad experience or wishing you were 10 years younger again. From the future you could be living in a negative version of yourself or what’s to come, you expect the worst-case scenario which can cause a lot of stress and anxiety for no reason.

I’ve been in both and it sucks. It’s something I have no control over and I have come to realise it’s not healthy for my mindset. Now I take control of the past or future whenever I spend time there. I only visit the past for success stories I call my victory list and I only visit my future for planning a positive outcome or seeing myself in a moment I want. I do my best not live any negative version of myself because this brings my mindset down to its knees if I let it.

Focus On The Now

7 exciting ways to focus more on the present

Through studies on happiness. Living in the present is a big factor in how you can take control of your inner happiness. It’s something I have been working on daily for a long time building my willpower to withstand the distraction of my past and future self and be present in that moment.

When we live in the present we can be grateful for what we have built for ourself and how we intend to develop ourself today for a better tomorrow. Focussing on the present depletes stress and anxiety and the more we live there the better we are within our mind.

It allows us to be grateful for family and friends we have, the environment around us and the gratefulness to be alive today.

Take a minute to look up and live in the present. How does it feel? As I was writing this I did this too and in the middle of my stomach, a feeling emerged that’s hard to describe but overall a feeling of content and happiness came about. This is a fuel we should keep topped up. Living 80% in the present and 10% in either the past or future. This will help lead a life of happiness and creates an opportunity to get more stuff done and end procrastination.

The Comparison From Yesteryear

We shouldn’t compare but we should be grateful for the privileges we have. If we compare ourselves from the average person living before the 1920s. Our standard of living as a whole is far superior and we take for granted running taps with freshwater hot or cold even an indoor toilet.

These things we can sometimes take for granted whereas it would be seen as a luxury not too long ago. Be grateful for the information we have at our fingertips. The average person can know more now than anyone from their family tree.

How I have Become More Present

Below I will discuss techniques that have allowed me to stay in the present. I’m no Buddhist monk but I’m a work in progress to live a more present life. What’s helped me is catching myself drifting too far into the past or future. If it’s something positive I let myself remain to see it’s full benefits but if it’s negative I get the hell out of there intermediately. From focussing on this I live a happier more fulfilled life. The reason I’m writing this is that I want this for you and for you to go on this journey to find your inner peace and happiness.

So below are my favourite 7 exciting ways to focus more on the present.

Tips to stay in the present

Turn Off Autopilot And Be Conscious

What can zap away being present is living life constantly on autopilot especially a constant routine that you do without thinking. Going day by day doing the same thing. Daydreaming about the future and living in the past are ways that can demoralise the best of us if left there. When you shake yourself off and begin to be conscious of where you are, this is when you can be grateful for the now and what you have in that present moment.

Focus On Your Breath

Breathing is an amazing way to be present in the moment. With all the wandering thoughts that can happen throughout the day. Coming back to the breath is an important way to regain control. Proven with studies it has many benefits to health as well as keeping us alive.

Importance Of Journaling

This is a great way to zone in on the present as you have to be consciously present to able to write what’s happening with your day and life. With amazing health benefits to boot. Journaling for me helps me gain control of my many wandering thoughts and puts them on paper and stay conscious with every thought. Also reviewing your day is a great way to stay present with what’s happening in your life.

Turn Off All Technology

In the digital age, there is nothing that can compete with taking you away from your present life. You can be hooked watching never-ending YouTube channels, streaming services and games. When you turn off your phone and become present you see what you have and what’s actually around you. Set yourself a challenge of putting your phone down and look up and experience what’s around you.

Get Out Into Nature

Getting out in nature allows you to focus on the now and create an abundance of gratefulness for what’s around you. It’s being proven to boost mood when in nature and it can create a feeling of being alive in the moment. Find your spot wherever you are to stay present in nature.

Start Listening

Sometimes we can talk too much or just zone out of conversations. Try staying present and focusing on listening intently to the person you’re communicating with. As well as building a more engaging relationship. This allows you to zone in on what’s happening right now.

Start Yoga

This is one of the best physical activities that keep you centred and in the moment. With you focussing on every breath and stance. It’s hard for you to getaway. Yoga teaches you about staying present and from your efforts you feel amazing from it.

Final Thoughts

All of the above 7 exciting ways to focus more on the present allows you to slow your life down and live in the present. When we do this we start to feel grateful for the moments we have and everything within it. How can you stay more present? Do you feel more grateful when you focus on what you have?

By Adam Smith

5 ways how to reach the state of flow more easily

How To Find Your State Of Flow

We have all heard the terms in the zone, flow or sweet spot. These are all terms we say when we feel at our best and perform to our peak state. Whereas when we are not in this zone. It’s either nothings happening or we are climbing Mount Everest to get back into the state of flow. I’ve tried my best to reach this state as I know it’s where my best self lies. So here’s what I’ve found out with my 5 ways how to unlock the state of flow more easily.

I have had many experiences with the unlock of state of flow. A prime example I have from my childhood was when I was playing the formula 1 game. I was driving a Ferrari around Monaco. I liked to make it as realistic as possible and set it to the exact amount of laps (72) as in real life. As I’m driving from lap 48 to lap 56 I can’t remember anything other than I’m still driving in 1st place. I got into such a zone that my subconscious had taken over. It was a weird sensation but I knew I was in the zone.

Whenever I’m in the zone for anything else my brain feels like it’s Limitless. Everything is moving in the right direction. Essentially everything I touch turns to gold in those moments.

Whenever you learn something and do it many times over. Your brain takes you to an autopilot setting. Here your subconscious mind can run the task a lot smoother. Rather than you overthinking loads of other thoughts that get in the way.

It’s like putting an untrained fighter in with an experience well trained UFC fighter. The foremost is going to be all over the place trying to think of what to do. Whereas compared to the UFC fighter he will indistinctively shut you down through his autopilot state.

Where are you an expert

The question you have to ask yourself. Where in your life have you become an expert? If you’re thinking your not an expert at anything. Remember you’re an expert breather, at walking, picking up things ETC. These are the things that run autopilot in your life without thinking.

After you have made a list of what you are an expert in. Ask yourself how can I channel my mind into the state of flow? If it’s writing, how can you get rid of all distraction or if your playing sports what preparation can I do before a game to get focussed?

This is what athletes do all the time to get them into their flow state. In formula 1 split-second reaction time matters and Two-time world champion Mika Hakkinen says “Every lap, you need maximum concentration. You need to focus 100%, so everything influencing your life must be in the right place and there can be nothing disturbing your mind.” This is why many athletes have turned to meditation and visualisation as techniques to help their mind focus and enter the state of flow.

Even when you get into the state of flow you can come out of it by a simple distraction then the whole process has to begin again. What if I told you there’s a way to access your state of flow whenever you wanted to.

Below are 5 ways how to reach the state of flow more easily

Something Challenging

Do something that challenges and excites you that’s just enough challenge that you can do. Getting into the state of flow your brain needs to be stimulated by a task that pushes you out of your comfort zone. If you pick something to difficult there’s too much for the brain to figure out. This will draw away brain resources to that area where you’re more consciously active in the development.

For example when I public spoken the first time I did it I was a mumbling sweating mess. Now through experinece the fear factor has gone. I now enter a flow state where an hour can feel like 10 minutes and I’m always shocked by the amount of time that has elapsed. When you know something and it’s a slightly challenging thing to do, this is prime time for the state of flow to take over.

Take action

This is a really simple one. You can’t reach a state of flow if you don’t take action. Here we are talking about activities that push the needle forward to improve your life. As much fun sleeping and watching Netflix can be. They’re not the zones we are looking for. So take action and become an expert on challenges that can move you into the state of flow.

Clear all distractions

For you to stay in the zone you need to stay inside your mind and not get distracted enough to come out of it. At home, if your writing, have your headphones on, let everyone know what you’re doing and move any other distraction like mobile phones to one side. This will drastically improve your chances of staying in the zone. If what your trying to do involves a crowd, prepare yourself for it, embrace it and over time it will become normal as background noise for your zone.

Find something that makes you happy

As there are many ways to enter the state of flow. When you’re trying to focus on entering it. Pick things in your life that make you happy. Everyones goal in life should be to achieve happiness any way they can and by choosing activities that get you into the zone will make the feeling of flow even more profound. Do something that ignites your passion that creates the focus needed to enter the state of flow. This shuts out everything around you to focus on what you love to do. Which means your probably an expert at it to allow yourself to do it on autopilot happily.

Quieten the mind

A great way to get into the state of flow is when you quieten the mind. It can be doing tasks at a certain time of day. I love writing and doing my morning routine before everyone wakes up in my home and this is the quietest part of my day. I can stay in this zone until everyone wakes up hours later. The feeling I get from this is something I look forward to. Another great way is to take meditation and breathing work which can also incorporate Yoga as an option. These techniques have allowed me to enter a state of flow consistently. The best way for me to enter this zone is by doing it alone without any distraction.

Final Thoughts

The unlock of state of flow is a wonderful experience when done by doing things your passionate about that, in the end, make you happy. Finding more of these experiences rather than a mundane flow state will boost your immense feeling when you reach that sweet spot.

Don’t focus on applying this into your day too much. Just allow times in your day where you can allow yourself to enter it without distraction and let go and enjoy the process. More will get done for you to progress onto whatever next step you wish to achieve.

What helps you enter the state of low? How does it make you feel? Have you ever planned to do it?

I would love to hear your thoughts on the post 5 ways how to unlock the state of flow more easily.