Not long ago, I conducted a poll on LinkedIn to determine how people spend their mental energy.

5% said they frolic in the past, 42% said they live in the present, and 43% are focused on the future.

Over 5,000 people voted in that poll, and the answers were encouraging.

I anticipated more people would be ruminating about the past. In casual conversations many people confess to "lingering in the past" too frequently and extol the virtues of needing to “be more present”.

Of course, there’s no right answer, and how we allocate our mental energy is highly personal.

For me, I spend little time thinking about the past. When I do, I contemplate fond memories and allow myself to experience the joy associated with those thoughts. However, I don’t loiter there.

I work on being present every day and find my ambitious wellness routine helps me stay centered on moving in a beautiful direction. Forward.

I also spend a considerable amount of time thinking about the future. I like to plan and mentally rehearse pushing toward my goals.

Regardless of how we spend our mental energy, research shows we have a limited supply, so using it wisely is paramount.

"It takes energy, mental toughness, and spiritual reinforcement to successfully deal with life's opportunities, and to reach their objectives."

--ZIG ZIGLER

HERE ARE 7 WAYS TO BECOME MORE MENTALLY PRESENT AND CONSERVE ENERGY:

01. FOCUS

Multi-tasking and constant distractions prevent many people from staying focused. When we aren’t focused, we drift. It’s easy to disappear into the past where dark memories cripple ambition and pull us toward unpleasant thoughts. Staying focused keeps our mental energy optimized and allows us to be present and plan for an exciting future.

02. IDENTITY

It helps to identify the things that truly deserve our attention. This applies to sales, relationships, personal priorities and learning to say no to just about everything. When we recognize the few things that demand our attention, we obviate the noise. Feeling productive helps alleviate the temptation to expend too much energy on the past or contemplating the future.

"Concentration and mental toughness are the margins of victory."

-- BILL RUSSELL

03. PRIORITIZE

Each day it helps to address unpleasant or hard tasks first. Building momentum is critical for success and many people feel defeated because they lack the discipline to prioritize things that should be done. Once we fall behind and feel nothing is accomplished, familiar narratives can become all consuming. You’re worthless. You’re no good. Nothing pulls us into the past faster than feeling like failure.

04. ROUTINE

Strong routines and great habits are a great way to stay present and pave the way for a beautiful future. To use energy wisely and create more energy, making time for what matters most is key. Develop routines and better habits that help us stay focused on the present and create a better future.

05. MOTIVATION

Many people rely on hope and willpower to drive their dreams. Hope is a beautiful thing, but without action, it’s simply wishful thinking. Willpower is the belief that somehow, we will find the motivation to spring ahead and get things accomplished. At Anatomy of Success, I teach people to become their own source of motivation. When we lack motivation, our future seems pessimistic and the desire to work today is depleted. Eliminate willpower from your vernacular and develop a relationship with true motivation.

06. SPACE

Create the appropriate spaces to succeed. Want to get in shape, allocate a place where that’s going to happen every day. Want to write. Find a place with no distractions where you can write. When we create environments where “good work” gets done, we enhance our probability for success. Notice that each of these steps keeps us focused on staying present, which prevents us from meandering into the past or getting preoccupied with the future.

07. INVEST

How we invest our time is a personal choice. Many people suggest they don’t have enough time yet squander precious minutes on meaningless activities. Nothing creates frustration faster than feeling like time is slipping away. Maintaining superficial friends, saying yes to every invitation, failing to prioritize yourself, setting boundaries with technology all require time that could be invested in achieving our goals. Set firm boundaries and free up valuable time for your ambitious plans. You won’t have time to wallow in the past or worry too much about the future.

"Strong minds suffer without complaining; weak minds complain without suffering."

-- LETTIE COWMAN

WHAT DO YOU DO TO BE MORE PRESENT?

Share your thoughts in the comments section and please like and share this article. I love learning from you as well.