How often do you find yourself aimlessly scrolling or flitting from one task to the next?

In Buddhism there is a lot of emphasis put on just being. Being present in the moment. Whether you are washing up, going to the toilet, eating dinner, or whatever task you are doing the concept is to focus solely on that task and be completely present at the moment.

“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.”

We live such ‘busy’ lives so many of us are never truly present, no matter where we are we are thinking about something else or being somewhere else

One of the things I’ve recently done is massively reduce the time spent on my phone, the endless scrolling, the checking the emails, and opening the same apps time after time without even thinking about it.

I realised that this had simple become habit to pick up my phone for no real reason other than to open apps without any kind of purpose or intention.

Most likely Using it as an escape out of the present moment.

When you allow yourself to be in the present moment it’s amazing how much more you notice around you. The smells, the sounds the sights

Let yourself be in the present and enjoy living in the now rather than thinking about the past or the future

Try This

Try it when you are home with your family, whether it’s around your kids or with your wife, put the phone away and just be there.

Chances are by putting your phone away nothing will change, your social media feed will still be virtually the same as the last time you checked it but what will change is the attention you can give your family, your kids, and your partner.

When your kids grow up they may remember you being around but it’s not the time you’re around them it’s the time you can give them.

Quality over Quantity, if you are truly present the time you can give them will be worth 100x more than if your attention is divided between your screen and them

If you are consumed by your screen when you are interrupted it’s going to make you irritable which is unfair to everybody else.

This is something I have been working on recently and have noticed a massive difference in my mood and general well-being.

Take The Time Reset

20 minutes scrolling social media – Flew By

Buying quality food – Can’t afford it (but buys several takeaways a month)

15 minutes to mediate – No Time

It all comes down to values, I speak a lot about values and we will always find the time for the things we value the most.

We need to take the time to reset, meditation is a great way to do this and just by sitting for 15-20 minutes you will be surprised how much clearer you can think.

A lot of people have this misconception when it comes to meditation that you are not allowed thoughts to come into the mind.

If this is not the case, observe the thought and then bring your attention back to your breath or mantra.

Zen meditation, also known as Zazen, is a meditation which many Buddhists practice and the goal of Zen meditation is to regulate attention when your mind wanders simply return your attention back to your breath or mantra.

I Will End This Post With

Live in the present, not in the past and not in the future.

Cherish the here and now and make the time you are in the present count

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