A study at Harvard that found that 50% of the time we’re either caught up in regretting things from the past or worrying about what we’re going to do in the future. Half of the time!

That means that when we finally go on that dream vacation we’ve been thinking of for months, or finally have time to play with our kids on the weekend, our mind is still not there. It’s wandering off to some past event or thinking of the future.

This even suggests that doing presumably healthy activity like yoga is not beneficial at all if your mind is wandering. A situation I think many of us recognize.

The researchers at Harvard concluded that a wandering mind is an unhappy mind. That being said there must be a lot gained if we learn to stay present in the moment. Enjoy life as it happens.

I’m sure some of this behavior of not controlling your head and staying focused on one thing at a time is learned. That’s good news. That means we can unlearn it and replace it with another, more beneficial behavior. Being focused in the now.

To start this new behavior try some mindfulness exercises when you do routine tasks during your day.

1. Be aware while you sip your first morning cup of coffee. Notice the feeling it gives you and the taste, texture and temperature.
2. With your kids during dinnertime. Look in their eyes, examining their facial expressions, skin, smell, everything about them. Enjoy your children and your time with them.

A good reminder is to think of your self in the world as a child who doesn’t know anything. Everything is new. You’re looking at the world for the first time.

Try this and you’ll reap the benefits and enjoy life more as it happens!