Let's face it.

We live in a time where being present is damn tough.

We forget our drive on our commute, often on autopilot forgetting how we even got where we are going.

We sit on our phones watching reels as we sit on our couches watching Netflix... at the same time.

We "work" while we scroll the gram.

We hang with our kids while we ruminate.

Etc, etc, etc.

There's a plethora of reasons for this.

The main two things I like to think about are...

Our Environment & Our Brain

Here's some environment examples (think... your senses)

• Phones

• Music

• Streaming

• Other people

• Chaotic feeling spaces

Here's some brain examples (think... your mind)

• Past experiences (rumination)

• Future concerns (worry)

• Stress/Anxiety

• Lack of engagement (disconnection)

• Information overload

• Cultural/Societal pressure (pressure, expectations, comparison)

If we can imagine any of the above CAN be true for us... this gives us a clear way to pick any of our weak areas and make adjustments.

Let's take this into the gym.

A lack of presence can lead to...

• Getting lost (you compare to another, you literally get lost in the workout, you spend the workout thinking about something else entirely different)

• Forgetting technique (injury, efficiency issues, not getting the most of the movement)

• A loss of experiencing what is actually happening in your body or what you're going through

This can all lead to an experience that isn't optimal for what you're trying to do. You can take this idea into anything you're doing in the moment, into work, relationships, etc, etc.

Here are some tips to avoid a lack of presence.

1: Get rid of any external stimuli as it relates to the task at hand. Meaning, if you are working, set your phone aside. Go through bouts of intense focus and then allow yourself some time to rest. This could look like doing a 60 min class with no cell phone around. Going to the gym for an hour without texting. Leaving your work at work while at the gym. Playing with your kid by just playing with your kid. Watching Netflix while NOT scrolling. Going for a walk and just walking without talking or listening to someone or something else.

2: Establish your PURPOSE and set your INTENTION. Prior to the thing you want to be present with, remind yourself why you are doing it. What are you wanting to accomplish? What can you do to make that come to life? How can you create engagement for yourself in the moment?

This all leads to a whole lot more focus.

It means we listen intently. We pay attention. To what is going on inside of us and around us.

We feel more.

We get the task done at hand.

Most of which we are ultimately escaping... whether we know it or not.

AND I GET IT...

YOU ARE A MULTITASKER and, and, and...

You'll find all the reasons to give you an excuse for not being present.

Our brains are trained these days to have constant stimulus. Even with another stimulus, we bring in more and more.

We need our coffee with our music and a background noise while we tackle the days emails.

We need to check our phone every 5 minutes while playing with our kids.

We need to listen to a podcast while we drive to work.

This all takes away from the experience and from being present and ultimately leads you to subpar work (imagine work to be anything you're wanting to do well at), forgetfulness, or simply an experience where you didn't actually let go and FEEL for a minute.

It keeps our brains constantly working. Information overload and increase stress...even when you might not feel it... your body does.

If you're in the gym and on your phone every 10 minutes, start there.

Leave work behind and your phone and try a bout of effort of focusing for 60 minutes.

Imagine what you might get.

AND... remember...everything is nuanced. This isn't a black & white situation. I am not making the argument for living your entire life in all ways with only focusing on one thing at a time.

I AM... asking you (and myself) to pay attention to where we might could clean it up a bit.

See ya out there,

Coach D.