About Us

We're the creators of BetterSleep, a leading wellness app helping over 60 million people around the globe sleep better.

We’re on a mission to help people around the world live a happier, healthier life, through expert-led meditations, sleep stories, brainwaves and more.

Share article
How to Be in the Present Moment
wellness

How to Be in the Present Moment

by BetterSleep
3 min read
Share article

How to Be in the Present Moment

It’s human nature to rethink the past and worry about the future. Focusing on the present moment, however, is more difficult. The problem of placing too much focus on the past and the future is that it can trigger anxiety, stress, regret, and general unhappiness. If you can learn to be more aware of the current moment at all times, you can step away from these bad feelings and enjoy better mental health.

What Does It Mean to Be Present?

The concept is simple: being present simply means bringing your focus and awareness to what is going on right now. Being present means being aware of what is happening around you as well as your own thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations. Your mind and your attention are not on the past or future, but right here and now.

How to Be More Present in Each Moment

Staying focused on the present takes practice. Try these tools and strategies daily, and you will start to find it easier to cultivate present awareness:

  • Try a regular yoga practice, which focuses on breathing and physical sensations in each moment.
  • Any kind of exercise can be an excellent way to push worries out of your mind—the physical challenge of a workout forces you to be in the present moment.
  • A walk in nature is great for focusing on the present world all around you. Pay attention to the natural sounds, sights, and smells.
  • Breathing exercises pull your attention to the present by focusing thoughts on the simple act of breathing.
  • A mindfulness body scan is a great way to target how your body feels right now. Sitting or lying down, start on your toes and simply feel and pay attention to each body part from your toes all the way up to your head.
  • For present focus before bedtime, use a guided mindfulness meditation on BetterSleep. A gentle voice and soothing music will bring your awareness to the present and prepare you for better sleep.

Benefits of Focusing on the Present

Focusing on the present moment is not natural in our modern world. We have too many distractions and worries. Taking time to practice mindfulness and awareness of the present is important for several reasons:

  1. Cultivating more awareness of the present moment helps to reduce stress. Studies suggest moment-to-moment awareness helps manage stressful events as they occur and leads to greater resilience in the face of stress later.
  2. Studies also show that mindfulness practice reduces the symptoms of anxiety disorders and depression. In other words, being present-focused improves mental health.
  3. Focusing on the present improves relationships. When you put down distractions and focus on the people around you, it strengthens bonds.
  4. Mindfulness practice can help you break bad habits. Researchers have found that strategies that help you focus awareness on current feelings and sensations reduce cravings for junk food, alcohol, or cigarettes.

Like anything worth doing, becoming more present takes time and practice. Try at least one mindfulness technique each day, and before long, you’ll find it comes naturally, and you will begin to reap all the benefits.

Share article

Related posts

The Importance of Sleep
sleep / wellness

The Importance of Sleep

by BetterSleep
8 min read
Benefits of Meditating in the Morning
wellness

Benefits of Meditating in the Morning

by BetterSleep
10 min read
Best Teas for Sleep
sleep / wellness

Best Teas for Sleep

by BetterSleep
10 min read
Why We Like Background Noise
wellness

Why We Like Background Noise

by BetterSleep
11 min read
What is Box Breathing?
wellness / mental health

What is Box Breathing?

by BetterSleep
6 min read
What Are Soundscapes?
wellness / mental health

What Are Soundscapes?

by BetterSleep
5 min read
Walking Meditation: How to Meditate While Walking
wellness

Walking Meditation: How to Meditate While Walking

by BetterSleep
8 min read
Coffee Naps: What Are They and Do They Work?
sleep / wellness

Coffee Naps: What Are They and Do They Work?

by BetterSleep
5 min read
Relaxing Nature Music
wellness

Relaxing Nature Music

by BetterSleep
4 min read
Music Is Good for the Brain
wellness / mental health

Music Is Good for the Brain

by BetterSleep
8 min read

Top 10 posts

From Stress to Success: How to Manage Back-to-School Anxiety
wellness / mental health

From Stress to Success: How to Manage Back-to-School Anxiety

by BetterSleep
5 min read
Behind the Scenes: Pride 2024 at BetterSleep with Collin Martin
lifestyle / news

Behind the Scenes: Pride 2024 at BetterSleep with Collin Martin

by Scott Yim
4 min read
Waking Up to Injustice: The Intersection of Racism, Sleep Deprivation, and Black History
news / mental health

Waking Up to Injustice: The Intersection of Racism, Sleep Deprivation, and Black History

by BetterSleep
8 min read
Sleep Paralysis Explained
sleep

Sleep Paralysis Explained

by BetterSleep
10 min read
How to Cope with Holiday Depression and Stress
mental health / wellness

How to Cope with Holiday Depression and Stress

by BetterSleep
5 min read
Have a Healthy Holiday Season
news / wellness

Have a Healthy Holiday Season

by BetterSleep
5 min read
Mindful Listening
lifestyle / mental health

Mindful Listening

by BetterSleep
6 min read
Sleep Hypnosis Apps: A Guide to Self-Hypnosis
sleep

Sleep Hypnosis Apps: A Guide to Self-Hypnosis

by BetterSleep
7 min read
Calming Foods for Anxiety
wellness / mental health

Calming Foods for Anxiety

by BetterSleep
8 min read
Brown Noise
sleep / wellness

Brown Noise

by BetterSleep
4 min read