It is not unusual, to have more things that we need to do, than we have time to do them.  Thoughts of what we need to do and questions about how are we going to do those things, keep our minds tensed up like the springs on a trampoline.  Feeling overwhelmed and anxious are often referred to as feeling stressed.  Although some stress in our lives is normal, and even necessary, stress does manifest itself in our body, and can adversely impact our health.

What are your stress symptoms?  Like me, you might experience stress as tension in your shoulders and neck.  Or, maybe you get severe headaches or have trouble sleeping.  Wherever or however the stress shows up in your body, it’s a message you should not ignore.  Your body is trying to tell you that you are overloading your own circuits.  If you don’t pay attention to the early warning signs such as tiredness, the slight twinge in your neck muscles or the beginning of a headache, the symptoms will get stronger and stronger, until they can no longer be ignored. 

One way to relieve stress and stop feeling overwhelmed, is “present moment living”.  Present moment living, is an effective way to increase productivity, reduce stress, and live a more happy and contented life. 

Let’s be honest, when most of us are doing one thing, we are already planning how we are going to do the next thing.  We are thinking about what we have to do after work, what needs to be done tomorrow or what we are going to do over the upcoming weekend. Rarely, are we fully present to what we are doing right now.  Typically, most of us, are trying to live in the future, instead of fully experiencing what is going on in present time.

As a Divorce and Life Strategy Coach, I am trained to stay in the present moment with my clients.  In order to be an effective Coach, during a session, I focus all my attention on my client.  When I am with a client, I do not allow myself to think about what I’m planning to cook for dinner later tonight, or wonder how I am going to manage to get my house cleaned and the grocery shopping done, before our out-of-town guests arrive tomorrow.  However, bringing that same focus to my own life, is a challenge.

For example, our house is in the path of a road widening project and we have to move.  We love our home and don’t want to leave, but we know we must.  Because we do not yet have the offer from the DOT, searching for a new place to live, has been frustrating and disappointing.  On several occasions, we found a house we liked, but were unable to make an offer, and the house was sold to someone else.   After eight years of waiting, we have been advised that the offer will come through sometime next week.  In a relatively short amount of time, we have to pack up all our household belongings, find another place to live, and move.

At the same time, that we are dealing with the loss of our home, a long-time tenant in one of our rental houses moved out.  Walls and doors need to be repaired and painted.  Carpet and flooring has to be replaced.  When I start to think of all the work ahead of us, and contemplate how we are going to get it all done, I start to feel anxious and overwhelmed by the tasks ahead.  My shoulders and neck begin to tighten and my peace of mind vanishes.  When I am not living in the present moment, my productivity drops, I make mistakes because I am distracted, and I make poor choices in what I eat and how I spend my time.

As soon as I notice those signs of stress, I know it is time for me to bring myself back to the here and now. I take a few deep breaths, consciously relax my shoulders and remind myself that all I can do is what is right in front of me.  I focus on my physical body.  What am I doing in this moment?  If I am sitting, I close my eyes and pay attention to how the chair feels under my thighs and I notice my posture.  I concentrate on where my feet are placed on the floor, the temperature of the room and where my arms are resting.  Anything that takes my mind off stressful future thinking and brings it back to where I am right now, will stop the downward spiral of feeling anxious and overwhelmed. 

Once I have regained my emotional and mental balance, I turn my attention, to the task in front of me, which might be folding clothes, or writing an article.  I cannot pack for the move or repaint a room, while I am writing an article or doing the laundry.   If my mind wanders again to things I cannot do anything about right now, I repeat the steps above.  Sometimes, I have to do this several times a day, but the rewards are many, and include reduced anxiety, relaxed shoulders.  From a relaxed state of mind, I am more productive, and creative solutions to problems come to me more easily.

When you practice present moment living, you not only improve your quality of life today, but you also lay the groundwork for a happy, healthy future.