With so many things going on in our lives today, it can be extremely difficult to get caught up in the stress of the past or the promise of the future. However, there is nothing that can be done to erase the past, nor is there anything that you can do in order to fully predict the future. The most you can do is to try to live in the present so that you can enjoy the life you are in now and not dwell on the past or worry about what the future will hold.

Living in the present can help you better accept the things that have happened to you in the past and to live the best life you can, so that your future is one you can be proud of and excited about. Living in the present has so many benefits, but it doesn’t mean that changing your mindset to start living in the present is necessarily easy. It will take some time, some effort and a serious shift in the way that you look at the world around you.

Even with the extra initiative, you may find it difficult to really start living in the present each and every day. Here are some tips on how you can get started.

Minimize Your Life

It can be so easy to get bogged down with the past when you have reminders of your past life all around you. Living a more minimalistic life will help with that. Remove unneeded possessions, particularly ones that are associated with past memories that don’t need to serve as constant reminders of what is behind you. You may be surprised to find how freeing it can be.

Forgive Others, Even if It’s Hard

Nothing can weigh on you and force you to focus on the past quite like holding on to emotional baggage—it is the heaviest type of baggage there is. You may have been hurt in the past, but if this is causing you to harbor ill will towards others then you need to start forgiving those who have hurt you. The hurt they caused you may be their fault, but if you let that hurt impact your mood and your life every day, the blame is only on you.

Stay Positive

Relax, take a deep breath and smile. Staying positive isn’t always easy, but positivity can be a major help when you are trying to live in the present. A simple smile is really all it takes to get started. If there is one thing that you are in control of in your life each and every day, it is your attitude. Stay optimistic and you will naturally start living more in the now.  

Soak it in

Each and every day is a gift, so treat it accordingly. Soak in as much of the present and of every day as you possible can. Be grateful and appreciative of the little things and really be mindful of what is going on around you. The beautiful weather, a smiling friend or a hug from a loved one may not seem like much, but if you really soak them in it will cause you to live in the present even more.

Don’t Dwell on What You’ve Already Accomplished

You may have found success in your past, or accomplished certain things that you are proud of. This is great, but it’s time to let those things go. You may think that dwelling on the past is a way to help you stay positive, but it is not. If you are still reveling in what you did yesterday, it means you haven’t done enough today. There is nothing like this type of honesty to get you focused on what you can do in the moment.

Overcome Your Addictions and Bad Habits

An addiction doesn’t have to be something as serious and as life threatening as substance abuse. Many of us are addicted to all types of things in our lives and we don’t realize that they are holding us prisoner and holding us back. Addictions can keep you from living a free life and they can hold you back from really, truly living in the present. This is because addictions, even small addictions have influence over your life. Take the time to overcome the things that hold you back so you can live for yourself and cherish every moment as it comes.

Keep these tips and strategies in mind as you work on changing your perspective and teaching yourself how to live in the present each and every day.