STAY IN THE PRESENT>>>>>>>...Just do it!!!

Kate was in her late teens. She used to suddenly start perspiring during the day. Her head used to throb severely. She used to feel drained out emotionally and physically for no well-defined reasons. She was not able to do anything productive. Days went by in this way, it took her a while to diagnose her problem. SHE WAS NOT LIVING IN THE PRESENT. Her mind used to wander from the past to the future. There were conversation replays every now and then. She was overanalyzing every decision she had made in the past. She was rehearsing what she said or would say to a friend who she met or would meet. She was caught up with her own endless loop of thoughts! She tried resisting it, but in doing so it made it even worse. There were times when she had to actually remind herself to breathe and tell her where she was. She was a prisoner to her very own mind and the prison wasn't a very pleasant place!!!!

Research shows that about 8 in every 10 teenagers in today's world suffer from mental issues. Anxiety attacks, nervous and emotional breakdowns, social anxiety, depressions, low self esteem, peer pressure, OCD(Obsessive compulsion disorder) .......... Yes, there are quite a few issues which need to be addressed at the earliest! Just like nutrition is the most important factor in maintaining physical health, staying in the present moment is important for our mental health. Like Kate, there are many out there suffering. I too was once a sufferer, so I feel you! I kind of devised a therapy to learn to stay in the present. Let me tell you, it isn't easy getting rid of overthinking. It is going to be difficult, you will feel like giving up, there will be periods of loneliness, there will be major emotional breakdowns involved, but trust me, the results are going to be impeccable! So let's get started.

ACCEPT IT:

Accept the fact that you are not living in the present. It is OKAY. There's nothing to be ashamed of. It is a natural tendency of our mind to go rogue. It is not a disease. By denying it, we're making it worse. We just need to train our minds and we'll be good to go!!

PROMISE YOURSELF YOU'LL IMPROVE DAILY: Once you've accepted it, resolve to do your best to solve the problem. It's not an overnight's process. You will have to sacrifice on some things. Be patient, it will take some time for the results to appear. Promise yourself, you will leave no stone unturned to achieve this goal. KEEP A LOW PROFILE FOR SOME DAYS: There is so much of entropy (me and my scientific terms😉) in this world. So much of information, of which major one's are unwanted, are going into our heads. What your friend did at her cousin's birthday party, why those two women were fighting in your neighborhood, where that celebrity went for vacation, I hope you do get the idea... For a week or so, stay away from all of this and avoid social gatherings. Quit social media. Just try to know yourself better. Introspect your thoughts. I call this the "isolation week". This actually helped me a lot. TALK TO YOURSELF:

Ask yourself why you think the way you do. When your mind is wandering, tell it to come back to the present. Tell yourself that you can control your mind, you are capable of doing the impossible. Another technique is to feel your surrounding. Touch 5 different things, and name 5 sounds you hear. More importantly, tell yourself that you love you, no matter what. You can go through anything with your own very help. Hug yourself, right now! Tell that beautiful being that you have come a long way and you are very proud of her!!!

MEDITATE: I think I keep saying this in almost every blog I write, but it is that important!! Just chanting OM after you wake up and before you sleep can do wonders! Whenever your mind wanders, close your eyes and take 5 deep breaths. LIFE'S PURPOSE AND GOALS:

Many a times, our mind wanders as we haven't designated it a goal. Write down your daily, weekly, monthly, yearly and life goals. Reiterate your goals as often as you can and you will find that your mind works accordingly. Make sure your goals are well defined and not super random. For example, a student could revise some formulae in his/her mind whenever their mind wanders. JOURNALLING:

Write down how you feel. You feel lost, go ahead and write down a poem on it. You feel anxious, scribble and tear the paper. Just do something... Don't sit there and fight with your mind.

MUSIC: Music actually heals your soul. Listen to any damn music. You feel like crying over the lyrics? Or dancing like a maniac? Or punching the pillow? Go ahead. Don't stop yourself. Let go of everything. Don't bury it deep down inside you. It doesn't deserve to be there.

NATURE: Watching a sunrise or sunset is an amazing investment you could make. Just look at the sun and the sky. You won't even feel like thinking about something else!!

AFFIRMATIONS: Your mind operates according to what it is told frequently. Affirmations can help control your mind easily. Repeat them throughout the day and when your mind wanders. Some helpful affirmations could be: "I can control my mind."

"I am capable of doing great things."

"I can stay in the present moment." "I know what I want from life."

"I won't let any thought control me. "

ENVIRONMENT:

Make your room clutter free. Stick motivational posters on the walls.

REWARD YOURSELF:

When you see a sign of improvement, reward yourself by simply saying "well done" or going for shopping. Just remind yourself that your efforts are appreciated.

I have not picked all of this from a single source. There are so many experiences, people and sites, who have a major contribution to this. I would like to thank everyone for the same.

Like I said, this is not gonna be easy. Please don't give up. You deserve that mental peace and solace. By staying in the present, you will be more productive and feel much much better!! All the very best! And do let me know if it works!!