A few months ago, I came to a sudden realization that I wasn’t really living my life. I realized that i was just trying to get through each day instead of actually experiencing it. When I thought back on my daily life the kinds of memories I would tell my future kids about, I realized I had almost nothing. Of course, I have memories from trips or special events, but in my everyday life, I couldn’t remember much at all. It’s not that I expect something big or exciting to happen every day, but I felt like I was just letting time pass, moving along like a clock instead of actually being present. And that’s why i ahve decided to make some small changes in my life. I started by setting New Year’s resolutions, along with monthly goals at the start of the year. My goal wasn’t to completely change my life overnight, but to do things that would help me feel more present and actually live my life. To be honest, it hasn’t been easy. There have been many times when I didn’t follow through with my goals, and that feeling of failure has been holding me back. Even though I made progress, there has also been times I have stopped for a while. Recently, though, something shifted again. I watched a video that talked about how most of us think of “living” as big moments like a trip, a concert, or a special event, while ignoring the fact that real life is made up of ordinary days. Living isn’t just those highlights, it’s also a random Tuesday, folding laundry, or doing something simple. That idea really stuck with me, and it has since pushed me to start trying harder to complete my monthly goals and to try to be more consistent than before. Since then, I’ve been focusing on small, simple habits that help me feel more present in my life. One of my biggest struggles is procrastination. Normally, when I clean my room or organize something, I’ll put on a show or scroll on my phone. But I’ve started turning everything off instead. At first, it felt strange, but I realized it actually helps me focus more and finish faster. Even having something in the background, like music, was distracting me more than I thought I also decided to do this while I eat. Every time I have dinner, I usually watch a show, so recently I’ve started eating in silence instead. At first, it felt a bit strange, but I have realized it actually has helped me slow down and pay more attention to what I’m doing. It’s a simple change, but it makes me feel more present, even during something i do every day. Another habit I’ve been building is setting aside time each week to learn something new. Once a week, I’ll watch a video or listen to a podcast about an interesting topic like ancient Mesopotamia or the history of something random. It’s a small thing, but it makes me feel like I’m actually adding something to my life. Sometimes I even replace background noise with a podcast so I can learn while doing other tasks. This has been helpful as it not only has helped me learn new things, but it’s useful for conversation because now i have random facts I can tell people! I’ve also been trying to pick up new hobbies. Recently, I started doing yoga again. I tried it before but couldn’t stay consistent. Now, I’m making more of an effort to stick with it, and it’s been really beneficial. Not just physically, but mentally too. When I combine it with meditation, it forces me to slow down and really be in the moment! Another habit I’ve added is cooking a new recipe once a week. It doesn’t have to be anything complicated; sometimes it’s just a simple dinner or snack, but I try to make something I’ve never made before. Since I already love cooking, this helps me grow that hobby and again learn something new! I also try to do it without watching anything, so I can fully focus on the process which again helps me be more present. Something smaller, but surprisingly impactful, is how I listen to music. I used to always have music playing while doing something else. Now, sometimes I just sit and listen to music on its own. No distractions. It’s just me, my thoughts, and the music. It’s made me appreciate the lyrics more, and it actually feels really calming. I’ve also been trying to give five compliments a day. This habit has helped me notice small things I would usually ignore. Especially with strangers, it can feel a bit uncomfortable at first, but it’s always worth it. i realized that I often think nice things about people, but don’t say them. So now ive tried to live by the phrase think a compliment, say a compliment. Every time I notice something or like something about someone’s hair, I’m forced to tell them. For example, once I saw a woman at dinner wearing a really nice scarf, and as I was leaving, I told her. It felt a little awkward, but also really nice, and It made both of us feel good! I like this habit bevasue its something small that most of us already do, and it helps me be more present by noticing small details. One habit I’ve struggled with a lot is journaling. I’ve wanted to start for years, and I even bought a journal two months ago but it’s just been sitting on my bedside table, empty. At first, I felt embarrassed about that. But then I realized it’s more embarrassing to never start at all than to start late. I’ve decided that this month, I’m finally going to commit to it. I hope it will help me become more present with my thoughts and myself. Another thing I’ve noticed is how distracted I can be when people are talking to me. Recently, my friend Sofia would often ask if I was actually listening every time she was telling me a story, and I realized she was right. Even when I think I’m paying attention, I’m often on my phone or lost in my thoughts. So now, I’m trying to fully put everything away and focus completely on the person in front of me whether the conversation is big or small. This is really great because I can fully take in what the person is saying and put my full attention to the moment! Overall, these are just small habits, but they’ve made a big difference. They’ve helped me feel like I’m actually living my life instead of just going through it. And I think that’s what makes them so effective, they’re simple, realistic, and something I can do anywhere. I know some of these habits might sound kind of dumb or too easy, and I’m aware of that. But for me, actually acknowledging them as habits has made a difference. It helps me stay consistent and pushes me to follow through. I also think there’s this pressure to make big, dramatic changes in order to improve your life. But honestly, I’ve realized that small changes can be just as important. Even if it’s something simple or something people already do, it still matters. At the end of the day, I’m the one living my life, so it doesn’t really matter what anyone else thinks or does. I’ve realized that focusing on what others are doing doesn’t add anything to my life, so what good does it do me? Nothing. So yeah, overall I think this mindset and these habits have really helped me become more present with myself and more aware of how I choose to live each day and the choices I make!