The simplest way to be present in your own life is to pay attention to your breath. Do it right now. Breathe while you are reading something, be aware of your breathing and really live it.

Take a deep breath, slowly, then deliberately breath out slowly. Observe your body’s overall condition: is it tense or relaxed, is your back straight or bent, is your neck relaxed or stiff?

Then move your attention towards the room: is it bright or dark, does it have a pleasant or a bad smell, are there any sounds coming from outside or is it quiet? Close your eyes, this will help you get out of the automatic rhythm with which you entered in resonance unconsciously.

Put a hand on your abdomen and inhale lightly. When the abdomen rises, it means that the lungs are full. Now exhale, moving your hand upwards, along your abdomen. Visualize the route of the air. Do not impose anything, just relax.

After a few breaths, you will feel lighter and more refreshed. The more you become familiar with this exercise of awareness, the more silent your mind will be. The ability to consciously follow your breath can strengthen a lot your power of concentration.

A Zen story talks about a young aspiring monk that complained about being bored when practicing conscious breathing. His master asked him to sit for a while with his head sank in a bucket of water. When the novice pulled out his head and took a deep breath, the master asked, “Well, are you still thinking now that breathing is boring?”

Seize the day

Another effective method to deepen the feeling of the present moment is meditation – any form of it. You can choose to go alone in a park and stay half an hour in the shade of a tree.