5 tips for living in the moment
Could seizing the day again help improve your mental wellbeing?
Many people have felt out of sorts since the pandemic – whether it’s the cancellations, disappointments or endless restriction, and being challenged by something none of us could control. As a result, right now, we might not be as focused on longer-term lifetime ambitions – and instead feel more determined to seize the day and live for the moment.
A recent survey by BMW found 68% felt more driven than ever to ’embrace life and step out of their comfort zone to try new things’. Half of respondents saying they were now concentrating on shorter-term attainable goals that provide instant pleasure, rather than future aspirations.
So how can you let go a little and live more for today?
1.Breakdownlonger-termgoalsinto smallerones
Behavioural psychologist Jo Hemming says to think about things you want to do this year, not just 10 or 20 years in the future. “So you’re getting a sense of stepping out of your comfort zone, especially if you’re used to holding on to everything and saving.
“Use what’s happened to us in the last couple of years to understand why we need to cherish the moment. With our families, those who’ve lost people or been seriously ill, it’s in our mindset that we can’t take everything for granted.”
2.Don’tfeelguiltyaboutself-care
“Self-care is very important,” stresses Hemming. “I think people confuse self-care for selfindulgence, especially when they’re saving and have long-term goals.
“It’s those little bursts of pleasure, doing something for yourself which actually contributes to your wellbeing. And if your wellbeing is in a good place, then your perspective on life generally improves and you feel less guilty about either spending money, doing that thing or taking time out.”
3.Workoutashort-termpleasureplan
Where to start? Hemming says to “work out what pleases you. What gives you that dopamine hit. What are the things you’ve missed that you haven’t done, for whatever reason?”
Just reflecting back on what you were doing in a different time – perhaps when you were younger, pre-pandemic or didn’t have so many money worries – can be helpful.
“What was the thing that pleased you? And how can you adapt that to something which: A, you can afford, and B, you have the time to do,” says Hemming.
4.Destressbykeepingitto‘two worries’aday
If you’re stressed out by life, whether it’s the pressures of daily woes or an onslaught of not great news, Hemming suggests trying to limit yourself to a couple of ‘worry windows’ a day.
That might mean watching breakfast TV or listening to a radio show in the morning, and then watching some news in the evening. “So you’re informed and you’re up to date, but you’re not bombarded. You’re not onslaughted by bad news, which we absorb like a sponge – and it makes us stressed out,” Hemming explains.
She says to stop and breathe out slowly and if we’re taking in news constantly and it spikes our cortisol levels, one of the key stress hormones. “And it’s very difficult to take time out for yourself when your cortisol levels are high,” notes Hemming. “They’re quite hard to self-regulate when there’s a lot of bad news around.”
5.Getoutandmaximiseyouropportunities
Because we’ve been under restrictions and spending a great deal of time at home, we’ve had to readjust our comfort zones – and maybe you’ve forgotten how to embrace life.
“Our confidence has narrowed to kind of our own four walls, or what we can do online,” says Hemming. “So it’s getting out there. Doing something in real time, because now we can.
“Don’t forget there’s a life beyond restrictions and it’s open. We should be maximising our opportunities of doing something outside of our homes, from surfing to riding a horse.
“And the reason we want to do so much of that now is because our life in the last couple of years has been out of our control. We need the thrills we’ve been deprived of.”