Why Do We Try to Keep Ourselves Busy?

25 October, 2021

Being Present - The Key to Happiness

Life is too short to spend it doing things we don't enjoy. We come into this world with nothing and leave the same way, so why not spend as much time as possible doing more of the things that make us happy? Is it because we are constantly on the move, always working towards a better future, or simply looking for something to keep ourselves preoccupied and avoid dealing with problems that need to be dealt with. In this digital age, there are so many gadgets and things at our disposal to distract us from living in the moment. But why? Why do we choose not to live in the moment at all times? Perhaps the truth is, it's hard for many people to be present in the moment and just take a break from all of our responsibilities, but there are ways that can help us get back on track and enjoy life again!

Let's discuss some of them . . .

Sometimes it's good to take a break and just be present. Being present means being right here in this moment without any distractions - not thinking about yesterday or tomorrow but only today. The key to happiness might be hiding right under your nose. It's simple to do. Just take a moment and breathe in the air around you. Look around wherever you are, see what is going on right now and let yourself enjoy it before moving onto your next task or activity. Doing this even for a minute can help us stay focused and be happier with life as we know it.

Just Take A Deep Breath

You can catch yourself being present by wanting to remember or become aware of what you're doing right now because there's something important about it. So if you find your thoughts constantly drifting away from the here and now, try to remember the time of day, what you are wearing, or where you are so that these things anchor your mind in "right now." Another measure one could take is training mindfulness through following their own inhalation for its duration and eventually switching to exhalations.

Just take a deep breath, forget about everything else for one second, and feel your body relaxing. Taking conscious breaths also makes it easier to control breathing when feeling panicked. Take many slow breathes in through the nose and out through the mouth for a few minutes. This will help centre you mentally because inhaling using the nose forces more oxygen into the blood by bypassing stomach gases along the way than if you were just to use your lungs alone. Lastly, imagine yourself sitting on top of an imaginary mountain overlooking every daily event that may be causing your anxiety or frustration with life in general once they're all below you- not forgetting what just happens but knowing at the same time that it doesn't have to control you.

WORTH THE WAIT! mySwimgym swim spa just installed in this happy customer's home in NSW thanks to the team @ Sapphire Spas

Another happy customer thanks to the team @ Paramount Pools Tauranga NZ

It has been so therapeutic to hop in to, stretch, exercise and relax with friends both before and since my total hip replacement - thanks to the team @Swimart Tweed Heads

Ready for relaxation and family fun thanks to the team @ Warner Pool & Spa Care Land

Eddie is another happy customer thanks to the team @ Pool HQ Taranaki NZ

Spend Time With Loved Ones

So what are some other ways to be in the moment? Doing the things we enjoy, as you guessed. This might be anything from engaging in one of our special interests to spending quality time with loved ones. After all, a big part of the reason we work so hard towards our future is to do more of the things we love so that ultimately we can be in the moment. For those of you who have strong family values, spending time with family can make us feel good because we derive a lot of our meaning from their presence in our lives. Whether it's simply going over to play a board game, watching a movie with mom and dad, or picking up some groceries together on the way home from school - spending time with family nurtures both physical and emotional needs. Now there is no point in spending time with family or loved ones only to not be in the moment distracted by things from your past or future, now is the time to be present. Some tips from experts to make time more enjoyable include being mindful and present when interacting with loved ones as well as not expecting anything in return so that your expectations don't cause disappointment.

Engage With A Hobby or Special Interest

Being involved in a specific interest is an excellent method to connect with your inner self, which will lead to contentment and enhanced life satisfaction. It's also a wonderful method to get into the present moment and forget about all other life problems. Some popular interests are photography, art or music as well as sports such as swimming or tennis. Engaging in a hobby helps you to feel relaxed because it takes your mind off of your current state of being. Stress has been scientifically proven to do things like age the skin quicker, wear on our moods, or create more inflammation in the body. A hobby can help you with all three! Plus you might be surprised at how quickly time passes when you focus purely on what matters most to you -- without any interference from anyone else. It's also not uncommon for people who practice hobbies to find themselves getting lost in the process and forgetting about their worries and getting "lost in the moment". This is where a Sapphire Spa can become a welcome addition to your everyday life.

Here's some of our Plunge Pools to start you thinking about a size and seating arrangement that will best suit you.

A NO-DIG alternative to a backyard swimming pool

Dive into a world of fitness and relaxation with our exceptional range of swim spas. Swim spas are our largest spas and because they can be heated, you can use them as a swimming pool all year round. They’re a great fitness machine with hydro massage seating at the other end to assist recovery and muscle mobility.

Swim spas will also encourage much needed active play for children, especially when technology is such a part of their lives these days. Sapphire swim spas can be built 3.5m, 4.0m, 4.5m, 5.0m and the largest at 6.0m, to fit into most backyards

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myWatersedge4.0mPLUNGE

myWatersedge5.0mPLUNGE

myWatersedge6.0mPLUNGE

myWatersedgePLUNGE SERIES

myWorkout4.5mPLUNGE

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myWorkout6.0mPLUNGE

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Practicing Self Gratitude

Another secret to being in the moment is to learn the art of self-gratitude. The key to self-gratitude is to take the time every day to consciously recognise things that you are grateful for. It can be anything that makes your life better - something you did, something someone did for you, or even just stating an observation about your surroundings like "I am grateful it's not raining right now."

Once you get in the habit of recognising all these little things, they will become ingrained in your subconscious and make it easier to feel content with what you have today (instead of always wanting more and live in the moment). Gratitude is the natural expression of an attitude of thankfulness, which is determined by appreciation of two things - by what we are grateful for, and how much it means to us. Beneath this attitude of thankfulness lies recognition on our part that life has been worthwhile and fair. Gratitude can be an appreciation of something that you have - be it time, money, good health, respect or beauty.

Saying thank you to the universe reminds us to stop and feel grateful about what we do have instead of dwelling on what we don't (or maybe say thank-you to the things that make your life easier). Whatever exactly makes you grateful in life; take a moment for yourself and give it some love. We all need some gratitude every now and then and this will allow you to be more present and in the moment.

Conclusion

The key to happiness is not materialistic. It all begins and ends with you, right now and the way in which you live your life today. Make sure you set aside some time to relax and be present in the moment rather than being constantly busy. This will ultimately make you feel happier with your life.