Be Here Now: The Importance of Rest & Being Present by Samantha Maciaga, MA, LCPC
We are coming off one of the busiest times of the year. Shopping. Holiday gatherings. Finishing up work for the year. Wrapping gifts. Traveling. Visiting family. The to-do list goes on and on. And while being busy attending parties, shopping for our loved ones, and working inside or outside our homes can all be great parts of the season, it can be helpful to remember to slow down, pause, and be more present.
I notice that we live in an environment that encourages us to be busy and always be on the go. And sometimes quite frankly, it is too much. We are surrounded by stimulation everywhere we go. Boredom is seen as bad. And it can be quite difficult for many people to shut off for a while. This can lead to feeling overly stressed, anxious, burnt out, or even depressed.
As humans, we need rest. It’s not a flaw or defect. It’s just the nature of being human. We need times throughout our day and week where we are simply just being. In the world of social media, where everyone seems to be scrolling or texting constantly, “just being” is a simple concept, but it is not easy.
Being overly busy can even cause many individuals to miss out on some of the best moments simply because it becomes so hard to slow down and be here now. During the holiday season, if you are placing so much stress on yourself to bake all the cookies, attend all the parties, and participate in all the activities, you may miss out on some of the best parts: the glow of the fire, your children’s faces when they see their gifts under the tree, the taste of holiday cookies, or the sounds of your family’s voices and laughter.
While the present moment is not always pleasant or enjoyable, it is where life happens. Life does not happen yesterday or tomorrow. The only moment we have is now. It’s ok to have memories of the past and plans for the future, but if we are overly focused on that or too busy, we take away from our lives that are actually happening right now. With that being said, if someone is too future focused, they are often anxious; and on the flip side, if someone is ruminating too much on the past, they are often depressed. On either side of the coin, that person is spending far too much time in their heads and is missing out as their life goes by.
And being present does take some practice. It may not come naturally. As we’ve said, because we’re all so busy and stimulated for much of the day, it requires intention to be in the moment right now as it is. So, here are some simple ways that you can practice bringing yourself back to the here and now. The next time you go for a walk, pay attention to the sound of your steps as you walk, or notice the feeling of your breath as you inhale or exhale. The next time you are washing dishes, bring your awareness to the feeling of the warm water or the scent of the soap.
Focus on doing just one thing at a time.
When done consistently, these small practices of bringing yourself back to this moment, can really help you to slow down and be more present in your daily life.
So, as you reach for your planners for the new year, and list out yours and your family’s schedules, remember to set aside some time to rest and just be in the moment.
If you find that you are anxious, depressed, or having trouble being present, we can help. Please reach out to Lotus Therapy Group at 708-552-7330.
