5 ways to live in the moment more

Mindfulness is a bit of a buzzword at the moment and it's definitely something that I've been trying to get to grips with over the past couple of months. I'm so guilty of either dwelling on the past or planning for/worrying about the future - I spend very little time living in the moment. But I've been learning that when you're suffering with anxiety, it's so so important to be more mindful and more present. Learning to bring myself back to the current moment has helped me to stop myself spiralling when I've felt the panic setting in.

I think that when we're all trying to navigate such demanding and stressful lives it is so important to practice mindfulness. So today I thought I'd share 5 ways to live in the moment more...

1) Make yourself a cup of tea

It's an age old tip, but a good cup of tea really does solve everything! I find the process of stopping to boil the kettle and let the tea brew gives me a couple of minutes to calm down and rationalise things. I find that this works particularly well when I'm having a stressful day at work - it's a great excuse to get away from your desk for a little break.

2) Make a list of the things you're grateful for

We spend so much time thinking about the future - planning trips, counting down to holidays - that sometimes we forget to be grateful for all of the great stuff we have going on right now. There is always something to be thankful for and I find that jotting 1 or 2 things down at the end of the day helps me to live in the moment a little more.

3) Light your best candles

Do you ever find yourself avoiding using all of your nicest things, saving them for a more special time? I'm really guilty of doing this with beauty products and candles - but the thing is, the only time we are guaranteed is right now. So burn your best candles, use your fanciest moisturiser, wear those expensive boots - make the present day as great as possible.

4) Do one thing at a time

A sure fire way to make yourself feel very frazzled is to try and do lots of things at the same time. I'm so guilty of having multiple tabs open or trying to clean my house while simultaneously writing a blog post and watching the latest episode of Scandal. By slowing down and doing one thing at a time you will get things done properly and feel more grounded.

5) Find your mindful hobby

There has been a rise of hobbies that can make you feel more mindful over the past year or so - colouring has been a particular success story! But all you need is a hobby or something to do that you need to concentrate on, something that means you can't scroll through your social media feeds while you're doing it. You could try baking or knitting or origami, but my all time favourite is still curling up with a good book.