How I Try to be Present

Graphic by Janet Xiong

In this current digital age, everyone is always on their phones, computers, watching TV or wearing headphones. Everyone is plugged into a different world.

When I spend too much time using technology, I feel out of touch with the world around me. Here are some of my tips on staying present that help me reconnect with my surroundings as a busy college student. 

Meditation

Meditation does not have to be closing your eyes in a seated position and focusing on your breathing. It could be a simple body scan. 

Sometimes the idea of having to sit in silence and breathe with my eyes closed turns me away from meditation. It sounds a little boring, so I try to do something while I meditate. I find it to be a great time to stretch. Plus, stretching feels great. 

I also do brief body scans. They ground me in the present. I close my eyes and focus on all areas of my body to check in on how I’m feeling. I especially focus on my feet, and I feel the ground under them. It brings me back to the physical space I am in. 

Hobbies

It is really important to find something fun and creative to do instead of using technology. Hobbies help you grow and remove you from the stress of work and the mundane. 

I personally like to junk journal. It is basically scrapbooking all the little slips of paper and small things related to day-to-day memories. I collect things like coasters from bars, receipts, tickets, business cards and detailed napkins. 

As a full-time student with a job, I can be too exhausted to even do this sometimes. It is really tempting to pick up my phone and scroll through Tik Tok. 

Grab a book or a magazine instead. I also find coloring to be really relaxing and something physical and fun to immerse myself in. 

Go outside

Take a walk without headphones on. I know it sounds boring, but trust me. It is really relaxing, especially in spring when all the birds are back and chirping. 

When you are not wearing headphones, you can truly observe and take in the world around you. It is a good reminder that I am very small in a big, busy and bustling city. Or state. Or country. Or planet. 

I find it humbling. 

There are so many things to do outside other than walking too. Hammocking, reading, hanging out with friends on a picnic blanket or playing outdoor sports are all great options. 

I love to play soccer or volleyball with my friends when I am particularly feeling out of it. Again, now that it is spring, this is the perfect time for outdoor recreation. 

There are so many other things one can do to stay present. I am not an expert, but I know what helps me be present. Technology tends to be the thing that removes me from reality. 

I suggest if none of these tips work for you, you listen to your body and intuition. If you are feeling burnt out and dazed, do what feels right. But I am still going to advise you to put down your phone.