Do You Know What You’re Missing When You’re Not Present?

If you’re not present in the here and now, you’re missing a lot.

Are you present as you go about your day?

Often, we simply go through the motions, not giving our full attention to what we’re doing. For many activities, like brushing our teeth, that makes sense. We don’t have to concentrate on routine tasks like that.

But we can’t let that carry over to everything we do. When we’re on autopilot, we’re not fully present. You can’t just show up and think that’s enough.

And what happens when we aren’t present? We miss opportunities.

Many of us are so caught up in our day-to-day routine we miss the opportunities in front of us.

We don’t see them, they’re there, but we’re almost blind to them. They don’t register.

Missed Opportunities Are Everywhere

I told her to be on the lookout for an opportunity, one that was right under her nose. She didn’t know what I was talking about. So, I told her to keep her eyes open. She went about her business, even looking inside the closet to find a toy for the dog, and didn’t see the opportunity that was waiting there for her.

Because she wasn’t really present.

I told her to go back to the closet and look again. She laughed when I told her she was missing an opportunity.

Then she saw it. A box. A heavy box. With her name on it.

She ripped open the box and screamed. The box contained a MacBook Pro.

I’d made her day, but she nearly missed it, just from not being present.

It happens to all of us. I’m sure you’ve been driving, and all of a sudden, realize you’ve traveled a block or two and didn’t remember consciously doing it. You weren’t paying attention to the street, but somehow you managed to drive on autopilot.

Say Goodbye to Multitasking

But when we have our eyes open and our minds in the present, focused on just one thing, we can see the opportunities that are all around us.

You may be thinking that’s all well and good, but we have to multitask in our high-tech, fast-paced world. We can’t be fully present for just one thing.

Nothing could be further from the truth. You can step back, slow down. And be fully present in what you are doing. You may surprise yourself to find you’ll finish each task quicker, just by concentrating on one thing.

You’ll find you’re more creative. You’ll be less likely to be analyzing or judging and appreciate the world around you more. When you get off autopilot, you’ll recapture some of the wonders of looking at a sunset or using the latest technology. Things that were dull routine take on a new fascination.

When you’re in the present, you’re less likely to be worrying and stressing yourself out over things that happened in the past or might occur in the future. All that worry and stress are just distractions from living your life.

If you take this idea into being present with the people around you, your relationships will improve. Instead of dwelling on the past or fearing the future, think about the present. What you and the people you are with are doing and saying right now. You’ll listen better, and the people around you will sense that and appreciate it.

And being present can even add some playfulness into your life.

Five Ways to Be Present

But how do you go about being present? Here are five ways to get started.

1. Breathe Deeply

Take the time to focus on a few slow, deep breaths. Think about what you’re doing as you inhale, hold it for a few seconds, and exhale.

You’ll find this is rather hard to do while paying attention to something else. Just this simple act of controlled and deliberate breathing can force you into the present.

2. Wiggle Your Toes

Yes, go ahead, move your toes. This works on the same principle as deep breathing. It’s hard to move your toes while you’re doing something else. And as a bonus, unless you’re barefoot or wearing sandals, you can do this without anyone else noticing.

It may seem like a silly thing to do. But just a minute or two of toe wiggling can plant you in the present.

3. Take a Break from Electronics

You’ve most likely heard this before. Don’t have your phone on the table while you’re having dinner with someone. And put the phone down while you’re talking with someone.

The idea behind it is simple. If we are touching something, we’ll often start thinking about using it.

Go ahead, pick up a pair of scissors. What comes to mind? You probably are already thinking about cutting something.

The same goes for your phone. When you hold it, you start to think about checking your email. Or your social media. Or you are looking up the score of last night’s game.

When you do all those things, you’re not present. So, put down the phone and be present.

4. Turn off Notification

Take things one step further and shut off the notifications on your phone. The first benefit is that you’ll cut out a lot of distractions.

But you’ll also remove the temptation to look at them. Think about it. Do you really need to read your email every time you get a new message? Or check notifications every time your phone signals you?

You don’t. In nearly every instance, your life won’t suffer if you don’t respond immediately.

So, if you can, get rid of all the notifications. You can always check them later. Free yourself up to focus on being present for what’s most important to you now.

Now, if there are people in your life that you always want to get through to you, you can arrange that. Simply set up a do not disturb passthrough list on your phone in your settings. Calls from anyone on the list will always ring. Even when your phone is on, do not disturb. All the rest will go to voice mail.

5. Focus on What Really Matters Right Now

Instead of letting your to-do list become a distraction, free yourself from it. Figure out what is the most important thing you need to do right now. The thing that matters the most.

Then pay attention only to that one thing. Let the rest go.

Then you’ll be present for that one task. You’ll be able to finish it more efficiently. And by concentrating on it, your eyes will be open to the opportunities it offers.

Opportunities are all around us. Don’t overlook them. Take the time to be present and take note of the opportunities that wait for you to discover.