In order to get through the day in the most ideal way possible, you must be aware of all situations and opportunities as they come along.

When you feel as if you’ve been dragged through your day by a force beyond your control, leaving you feeling tired and overwhelmed, then it’s time to take the wheel! The best way to do this is to be in each moment as it unfolds.

When you've been programmed to move through life on auto-pilot, making a shift can seem impossible. Things don't change over night, but if you desire to live more consciously it will take dedicated action.

Here are some simple changes you can make to keep your mind in the moment more often.

Take some dedicated alone time. The practice of being mindful is very much based on how you FEEL from moment to moment. When you have no time alone  to get in touch with your own feelings, ideals, and emotions, it can be hard to use your true internal compass while engaging in life. Spend some quality time with yourself to stay grounded and secure in the present moment.

Make stress-relief your friend. When stress is high and you feel like you’re just trying to stay above water, it is challenging to be in the moment. Many things, from exercise to reading a good book, can take your stress level down a notch or two. Find and then apply whichever stress relief technique suits your needs. (Never underestimate the stress-relieving power of a good diet!)

Practice the ‘Mindful Pause’. No matter how much you meditate, exercise, pray, or think positive, it is nearly impossible to be 100% in control of your thoughts and emotions. When you feel yourself getting swept out of control, take the time to pause and get in touch with the moment. Keep it simple. Try sitting in your car for moment before driving on.  Or lying in bed doing a body scan before jumping up to start your day. These can make a BIG difference. The mindful pause will allow you to  

seize the moment...and the day!

Feeling more ease as you move through your day can go a long way to making life a bit brighter.  So often the heaviness in life is caused by not being able to see things clearly. When you slow your mind and body down and take each moment as it comes, your view gets a lot clearer, the seas calmer, and you start to feel like you can tackle almost anything.