As humans, we tend to worry about both the past and future but, ultimately, the only time and place that we have complete control over is the present moment.
In times of stress, many people find a sense of calm from practising mindfulness: an exercise that can help you to focus on the here and now, and better understand your thoughts and feelings.
Meditation is one of the best-known forms of mindfulness, but there are plenty of other activities that can help you focus your mind.
From colouring and knitting to birdwatching and flower arranging, here are 10 everyday activities that can help you stay in the present moment.
1. Mindful cooking
With plenty of smells, sounds, and tastes to enjoy throughout, cooking can be a great way to focus your mind on the present moment. Many of us find ourselves rushing to prepare food so that we can move on to eating – it’s just another task on the long list of daily chores we have to complete.
However, taking the time to fully engage in cooking can help distract you from any racing thoughts, provide a sense of accomplishment, and be a form of self-care. There’s something satisfying about sitting down to enjoy a meal that you put real thought and care into – especially if it tastes great!
So, next time you go to cook, try to approach it mindfully. Think about each utensil you use and what you’re doing at every stage. What can you hear? What can you smell? You can also taste-test your food along the way, focusing on the textures and flavours.
By having complete focus as you cook, you’ll hopefully be able to find yourself really living in the moment and enjoying the process.
To get started with mindful cooking, Headspace offers a free five-minute exercise that you can try here. And to take mindfulness that step further, check out our beginner’s guide to mindful eating.
You might also like to browse the food and drink section of our website. Or why not see if there’s any upcoming cooking demonstrations running on Rest Less Events?
2. Knitting
If you find it difficult to keep your mind in the present moment, you might also experience feelings of restlessness that prevent you from fully relaxing.
When this happens, many of us turn to our smartphones and start scrolling through social media to keep our hands busy. However, this only tends to make the problem worse because we come across new things to worry about.
Knitting can be a great remedy for this because it keeps both your hands and mind busy, while also giving you a sense of accomplishment. The repetitive movements of creating knit and purl stitches can allow you to enter a somewhat meditative state. And although knitting is relaxing, it doesn’t allow your mind to wander too far – because drop a stitch and you’ll end up with a hole in your pattern.
If you’ve never tried knitting before, why not give it a go? Once you get the hang of it, it can be difficult to stop! You could be knitting toys for your grandchildren and scarves for your neighbours before you know it.
Our comprehensive knitting guide for beginners will take you through everything you need to know to get started. Or if you’re looking for ways to keep your hands busy but don’t think that knitting is for you, you might find it helpful to read our article; 8 things to do with your hands when you feel anxious.
3. Flower arranging
Some people find comfort in having flowers around the home. They can bring brightness and cheer, and help connect us with nature.
So if you find joy in flowers, why not consider learning more about flower arranging? As an aesthetically pleasing activity that requires concentration and creativity, it can be great for helping you push negative thoughts away.
Flower arranging can also be a fun and interesting skill to master. Many people think that it’s simply about placing a bunch of flowers in a vase, but flower arranging can soon become a satisfying and relaxing hobby that requires real skill.
If you’re wondering where to get started, you’ll find plenty of inspiration and guidance in our article; 17 of the most popular and classic flower arranging styles. There are also countless tutorials on YouTube that cover the basics of flower arranging. For example, Simple Solutions: The basics of flower arranging and Creating a basic table arrangement.
You might also find it interesting to read about regular contributor Janet Gordon’s experience of joining a flower club.
4. Birdwatching
You can take up birdwatching from anywhere – whether from the comfort of your own home or from your local park or woods.
Try focusing on the birds’ movements, appearances, interactions, songs, and how they relate to one another. And those with a special interest in birds may want to take their birdwatching experience further by learning more about the individual behaviours of different species.
If you’d like to find out more about birdwatching, why not read our beginner’s guide?
If you have a lack of birds in your area or struggle to spot them, you could also consider a virtual birdwatching session. Explore has a selection of live cams that’ll allow you to check in on a wide range of birds, including Eagles, Great Herons, and Hummingbirds.
5. Colouring
Over the last few years, colouring has become increasingly popular amongst adults and is frequently used to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. It’s thought that focusing on something creative, cheerful, and low-pressure can help to keep the mind busy and promote calmness.
Colouring is a stress-free activity because you can do as little or as much as you’d like in one sitting, and it’s difficult to make a mistake. It can also give you a feeling of accomplishment as you make progress with each new area that you fill.
It’s also fun! You can choose to colour pictures of things that you like or that inspire you, can get creative with colours, and play around with using different pens and pencils. You can find lots of free colouring pages to print off on the Crayola website. Or you could consider buying yourself a colouring book. Some people prefer this as they can work through it systematically.
6. Gardening
Whether you have a garden or not, there are plenty of ways that mindful interactions with nature can bring you peace and contentment.
Research shows that nature and happiness are closely interlinked because of nature’s ability to make us feel more connected to our surroundings. Gardening can also help to reduce feelings of loneliness, stress, and anxiety.
Whether you’re caring for a couple of small cacti on your windowsill or pruning a 10ft tall hedge, the act of tending to plants, flowers, and green spaces requires concentration and commitment.
Gardening can help to quiet your mind. When you’re repotting a plant or pruning your apple tree, it’s important to get it right so your plants and flowers live long, happy lives!
The gardening section of our website has plenty of tips to help you get started. If you don’t have a garden, our articles; 10 things you can grow in a window box at home and 10 low-maintenance indoor plants that can add life to your home should offer plenty of inspiration.
7. Pottery
When you think of pottery, you might automatically be transported back to the famous scene in the 1990 film, Ghost, with Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore. But learning to throw a plate, pot, or mug on a potter’s wheel can be a mindful and fulfilling experience.
The great thing about clay is that there’s an endless list of things you can create with it. Following your clay on its journey from a murky lump to a unique and beautiful object that you can use or gift to a friend can be incredibly rewarding.
Pottery can help to keep your mind present as it relies so heavily on the senses – particularly touch, sight, and smell. For example, when feeling the warm clay in your hands and smelling its earthy scent, it can be difficult for your mind to wander.
However, clay can be unpredictable and although you may have a clear idea of what you want to produce, your ball of clay might have other ideas! In an interview with Vogue, ceramicist John Sheppard said, “You have to be in tune with the clay and react to what state it’s in to work with it.”
The downside to pottery is that it can be pricey. But if you’re planning for this to become a long-term hobby, the investment is often worth it. Kara Leigh Ford Ceramics has a helpful guide to help you choose the right pottery wheel, here.
Once you’re up and running, YouTube has a wide selection of free pottery tutorials including wheel throwing for beginners and how to wedge your clay.
8. Decluttering and organising
Decluttering and organising is the kind of activity that once you start, it can be difficult to stop! Have you ever tried to find something in a messy cupboard and before you know it, it’s three hours later and you’ve sorted and rearranged the entire thing? I know I have.
The process of decluttering and organising tends to be all-encompassing and can offer a great form of escapism. There’s no room for anything else in your head when you’re trying to figure out whether to keep those comfy brown loafers with the worn-out heels or that beautiful black dress that’s one size too small.
The other great thing about decluttering and organising spaces is that you receive instant satisfaction when you see the results. You could also take before and after pictures of your work to track your progress.
If you’re interested in learning about how best to declutter your things, have a read of our articles; How to declutter and reorganise your home and 5 tips for downsizing your belongings.
For further inspiration, organising consultant Marie Kondo has a great series on Netflix that’ll show you how to get rid of items that no longer bring joy to your life, and tidy those that do. She also offers free tips over on her YouTube channel.
9. Exercise
Engaging in physical activity can be just as great for your mind as it is for your body. Exercise not only encourages the release of endorphins (happy hormones), but it also connects your mind and body, helping to keep you in the present moment.
It’s difficult to exercise without considering how it makes you feel or tapping into your mental willpower. Our article, How exercise can lead to better brain health, has more information.
If you haven’t yet found your sport or go-to exercise, there’s plenty of ideas on the fitness and exercise section of our website. From running and cycling to Tai Chi and walking football, there’s something for everyone. Alternatively, you might like to sign up for a virtual exercise class on Rest Less Events.
10. Hanging out with your pet
Animals live in the present moment with little regard for the past or future – and this can make spending time with them very refreshing. Seeing how happy and engaged they are with life can help us to forget about our own troubles.
Pets have a funny way of connecting with us emotionally. Because they can’t speak to us, we interpret their behaviour and look for signs of what they could be thinking or feeling. So, focusing on our pets can help to centre our minds on the present moment.
Spending quality time with your pet could be something as simple as watching your fish swim around their tank and paying attention to the light reflecting off their scales and their interactions with one another. Or, you could take your dog for a walk, play fetch in the garden, or teach them a new trick.
Our pets are precious, so any extra time with them can only be a good thing!
Final thoughts...
"With mindfulness, you can establish yourself in the present in order to touch the wonders of life that are available in that moment.”
Like everything in life, staying in the present moment becomes easier with practise. The more you engage with activities that you enjoy, the more likely you are to focus solely on the task in front of you.
Staying present can also be easier if you temporarily free yourself from external factors like your smartphone or TV. They tend to distract and prevent us from giving our full attention to tasks. Feeling torn between multiple activities can increase feelings of anxiety and unrest too.
If you’d like to learn more about mindfulness, check out our introductory guide. And you can browse mindfulness events on Rest Less Events.
What activities help you to stay in the present moment? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.
