Staying in the present moment can be very beneficial for your mental health. Keeping your mind in the present can help you focus your mental energy on what is happening to you now instead of what has happened in your past or what may happen in your future. 

With countless distractions filling our daily lives, it can be difficult to keep our minds in the present moment. 

I used to struggle with living in the present. My thoughts would often drift to past scenarios. I would spend much of my time thinking about things I could have done differently or situations that I wanted to change. My thoughts would also drift towards the future. I could get lost in my mind for hours worrying about what I could potentially encounter one day. 

Our minds naturally gravitate towards the past and the future. We can learn from the past by analyzing things that have happened in our lives. We can also be more prepared by expecting what may happen to us in the future. However, if we let our minds spend too much time in the past or the future, it can damage our mental health. 

The past and the future are two things that we have no active control over. It can be detrimental to spend too much time thinking about what is completely out of our control. In my personal experience, it can lead to increased anxiety and spiraling negative thoughts. 

If you find yourself dealing with the negative effects of being distracted from the present moment, try to guide your mind back to what is happening right in front of you. Thinking about the present moment can help you stay grounded during times of anxiety and distress. 

There are several techniques you can use if you find yourself needing to be brought back to the present moment. One way to bring yourself back to the present is to stop, notice what is around you and ground yourself. 

10 Steps to Ground Yourself:  

1. Stop what you are currently doing 

2. Take three deep breaths 

3. Close your eyes 

4. Notice three things that you can hear 

5. Notice one thing that you can smell 

6. Open your eyes 

7. Notice three things that you can see 

8. Notice three things that you can touch or feel 

9. Take three more deep breaths