How do you live in the present more? (Episode 352)

Being present sounds like the simplest advice in the world... until you try to do it, and it turns out to be the toughest thing ever. This episode is about why being present matters, and why it's so hard to be present even when you try to be. This week in the Let's Talk About Mental Health podcast I'm digging into the practicalities of living in the present more as a tool for better mental health. This isn't yet another list of breathing tricks or five-minute rituals that never sticks; it's about why being present actually matters (hint: it's got far less to do with your mood, and a lot more to do with who you're becoming), and why it's genuinely so hard to do, especially when the world feels heavy and uncertain... and when the idea of 'presence' can start to feel like an unattainable goal. I'm taking an honest look at why your mind resists the present by default, and I'll step you through a handful of realistic and practical ways to actually show up for your own life... instead of just supervising it from a distance. If you've tried the usual 'be present!' advice before and it never really stuck, this episode is the missing piece.  👉 Ready to start being more present in your life? Then let's talk! 💡 TL;DR: Being present is tough because your mind isn’t built to make it easy. This episode explains why, and how to overcome that challenge so you can be present more. Let's Talk About Mental Health with Jeremy Godwin is about practical mental health advice for real life; each week I teach you how to improve your mental wellbeing with simple tips that actually work, drawing on my professional expertise as a counsellor and my personal experience living with anxiety and depression. Welcome and let's talk! ⏱️ Chapters/Timestamps: 0:00 Being present and mental health 0:41 Living in the present 2:40 What does it mean to be present? 6:43 Why being present is hard 12:51 How to actually live in the present 24:41 What I want you to take away 📝 Transcript & show notes: https://ltamh.com/?p=21448  📖 Buy my book 'Life Advice That Doesn't Suck': https://jeremygodwin.com.au/latds/ 📍 Support my work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jeremygodwin ➕ Related episodes: Feeling heavy emotionally (Episode 351): https://ltamh.com/?p=21318  Overthinking and thought spirals (Episode 321): https://ltamh.com/?p=19518  How to improve your mental health (Episode 338): https://ltamh.com/?p=20450 👋 New here? Hi! I'm Jeremy Godwin, writer and counsellor plus the host of the Let's Talk About Mental Health podcast, your weekly dose of practical advice for better mental health. I share straightforward tips to help you protect your peace and improve your mental health, with new episodes every Sunday. 🔗 Links: Let's Talk About Mental Health website: https://ltamh.com Subscribe for free show notes/transcripts in your inbox: https://ltamh.com/subscribe/ My Digital Store: https://ltamh.com/shop/ Daily Reflection Tool: https://ltamh.com/product/daily-reflection/ Daily Affirmations Tool: https://ltamh.com/product/affirmations/ Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ltamh Find me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ltamentalhealth/ Mental health resources: https://ltamh.com/resources/ 📚 Research mentioned in this episode:  Killingsworth & Gilbert (2010). A wandering mind is an unhappy mind. Science, visit https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1192439 for more #beingpresent #livinginthepresent #mentalhealthtips #mindfulliving #mindfulness #presentmoment #mentalhealth #selfawareness #personalgrowth #selfdevelopment #protectyourpeace #ltamh #mentalhealthpodcast #mentalhealthawareness