Do you feel like life is going by too quickly? Do you feel like time is slipping away? Do you miss important moments because you are always multi-tasking? Do you feel like you are always looking forward to the next moment instead of enjoying this one. Here are some tips to help you slow down and smell the roses.

Breathe Deep: When you have deep breaths you engage your parasympathetic system which relaxes your body.  When you breath deeply it is almost impossible to think about other things. The simple act of breathing keeps us from focusing on the future and what we “should be doing”.

Chew Your Food: Do you wolf down your food because you are in a hurry to do something else? Do you talk on the phone or watch TV when you ought to be masticating and savoring each bite. Chewing food will help your digestion and increase awareness of the present. Plus it seems that people who chew at least 20 times for each bite are full on less food.

Drink Tea: Tea is hot and it is hard to drink quickly so it will automatically slow you down. The whole act of tea is slow, waiting for the water to brew, then waiting for tea to steep. Each sip will help you savor the present moment. You can take tea time to reflect on how lucky you are to have tea to drink. This is one of my favorite teas especially with some coconut milk.

Drink Broth: Broth encourages awareness because first you have to save your bones, then simmer them for 24 hours in a Slow Cooker. Then you have to strain off the brown bits. Broth will give you vital minerals which will help you focus so you can be in the moment. Broth is also full of glycine which heals the gut lining which will boost your mood. See my recipe here. If you are too busy to make it you can order it a great source here.

Acupuncture: I have been going to Community Acupuncture lately and it has been incredible. They are so attentive and helpful with all my ailments. It is an amazing place because it is a sliding scale from$15-35, plus it is a chain so most likely there is one near you. They put you in this big recliner and stick in the needles in certain spots based on your needs. My eyes close and 45 minutes later I come out of my dream like state.  It may seem like I was asleep but it feels like I went to another level of awareness. The time flies by and all my stress is gone too. Have you tried acupuncture?

Try Meditation: Meditation helps you shut out all the “noise” so you can truly experience the present moment. When you practice meditation your mind easily goes to this new place where all your cares seem to float away.  Read my article on how to meditate here:

Walk Outside: I love walking outside and breathing fresh air.  I love to get out of the city and hike, especially in the Marin Headlands. This area is totally away from the ambulance noises and there are very few people. When you walk outside it is tough to multitask so it is a good time to focus on enjoying nature and being in the moment.

Sit by the Ocean: When you sit by the ocean or walk on a beach you soak up negative ions from the air. This automatically calms anxiety and even increases Serotonin.  Listening to the waves will help calm your nerves and keep you from focusing on your to-do list.

Make a Gratitude List: Practicing gratitude increases feel good chemicals in the brain making it more likely that you will enjoy the simple things in life. Giving thanks will naturally lower cortisol production which will help reduce stress (and reduce belly fat). We spend so much time thinking of all the things we don’t have or don’t like but counting your blessings will help us savor each moment.

Take an Epsom salt bath: In the bathtub you can’t have your phone or Ipad to distract you.  You have to sit in there for 20-30 minutes in order to not waste water, so it is a good time to be in the moment. The magnesium in Epsom Salt helps all the tension in your muscles to relax away helping you get out of fight or flight mode.

Bonus Tip:

Stretch: Sometimes when I want to meditate but I am just too jacked up, I opt for stretching instead. I put on some Kitaro on Pandora and I just do every stretch I can think of. After a few minutes I am so in the moment that I forget my worries. Try some stretching for yourself and let me know how it works.

How do you increase your awareness to be present and in the moment?

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Caitlin Weeks

Caitlin Weeks, BA, Certified Nutrition Consultant, C.H.E.K. Holistic Lifestyle Coach, and NASM Certified Personal Trainer is a San Francisco based Holistic Nutritionist serving clients locally and beyond (US & international) via phone and Skype consultations. Since 2001 Caitlin has had success conquering obesity after a lifelong struggle with her weight. Since 2009 she has been winning the battle over Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis by managing stress and using a paleo diet. She is committed to educating others about the benefits of traditional foods and efficient exercise. She writes weekly articles about health and nutrition on her blog: www.grassfedgirl.com

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