Live for the moment, seize the day, carpie diem.
These well cited cliches for stress management are based on the logic that by focusing intently on the present moment we can set aside past regrets and future anxieties. Doing so can provide us with a greater capacity to perform and succeed.
Interestingly, such mottos directly contradict our fundamental human nature and daily experience. Human psychology is hard-wired to recall the past and look into the future. After all, human survival is based on learning from experience and preparing what happens next. For example, most people at times experience feelings of regret. Although unpleasant, these feelings can aid us by ensuring we remember our misguided actions, and aim not to repeat them. In a workplace environment, existing in the present is doubly difficult due to the importance of planning and evaluating work, which are inherently forwards and backwards looking tasks.
Another contradiction is the fact that time is continuous – there is no such thing as a final stopping time. Thus, to isolate the present we must pause, consider a small slice of contemporaneous time, and arbitrarily disregard the entire past and future. This is often a practical impossibility. As humans, we are all too aware of the impact that the past and future have on the present, thus attempting to isolate one from the other is a deeply unnatural process.
These contradictions help to explain not why focusing on the present is a mistake – indeed there is great value in streamlining your mind and focusing your energies – but rather why trying to implement this approach is often extremely difficult. Failing to be mindful and to focus on the present moment, even if you fail repeatedly, is not an indication of your inability to do so, or of the futility of your attempt, but rather a reminder of the fact that this approach requires conscious attention and effort. Hard work is required to constantly conquer and overcome some default fundamental process of your cognition.
So, what are the benefits of existing in the present? For starters, research suggests that people who are able to detach so as to be fully present are generally happier. There is also much to be said for the positive effects of existing in the present in a workplace environment as it can allow employees to focus and perform more effectively.
Given the importance of remaining present, what can employees do to stay anchored? As with anything, consistent practice is a large part of the answer. Living in the present is not a spur of the moment decision that you can make and that will result in instant change. It is instead a lifestyle change; a kind of daily discipline that will allow you to acquire more skill over time. If you want to become an accomplished football player, deciding to play football is certainly necessary but it will not be sufficient. You must cultivate a habit of consistent training. When at work, consciously notice each time your mind drifts towards past regrets or future considerations, and gently pull yourself back to the present. One way to do this is to leave a note on your desk, in your direct line of sight, to keep the idea at the front of your mind.
The bottom line
Do not beat yourself up when your attention drifts.
Acknowledge the difficulty of what you are trying to achieve.
Gently bring your mind back to the present.
Sukhi R. is a strategic consultant focusing on organisational Strategy & Transformation. She holds an MSc in Business and an LLB from Warwick University, and has a keen interest in the psychology of business and consulting.
Image: Pixabay
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