This pandemic is feeling soo long. People are fed up, stressed, lonely, sad and lack motivation. Just need to tell you all that this seems normal- given the circumstances. We have never gone through a pandemic, this is new for everyone but I can guess that if we had an end date, people would have something to work towards and get focused. As it is right now, folks are tired!
It is hard to remind yourself to live in the moment but that is exactly what we need. Worrying about the future, making plans, trying to control is our jam as humans. We ALL do this and these are very hard habits to break. During a pandemic, thinking about the future will depress us and zap our energy. How can you coach yourself to live in the moment more often? We do have to internally coach ourselves because it won’t come natural. This is boring but the first step is to recognize that you are trying to plan, predict and control. Some clues that you are doing this – your thoughts go faster and faster and you might even feel anxious in your chest or throat. To recognize that you are worrying about the future is a practice, you have to make a conscious effort to notice when you are engaging in worry thoughts about the future. Once you recognize, you can shift your thinking back to the present moment. You can use distraction if your present moment is stressful. You can call a friend and connect with someone who fills you up. Find the thing that grounds you back to this moment because that is all we have. I fluctuate between a few things when I need to take a break from stress and worry. I like to watch something funny and mindless, that always works! Reading requires concentration so it isn’t always helpful. I do call on friends who can easily take my mind off things. If I am in the right frame of mind to do the best thing for my mental health, I will go for a walk in the fresh air. You have to find the things that work for you. No one can tell you what will work, it is totally up to you to experiment and test what helps you shift back to the present moment. The past doesn’t matter and we have no idea what the future will bring so why suffer now? You might have to bring yourself back to this moment 100 times a day but it is worth it.