Talk about multitasking! In February, an Ohio woman faced charges of child endangerment after she was spotted breastfeeding while driving and talking on a cell phone. Though the case was extreme, who among us has not raced through the days, trying to do everything at once, running so hard and fast we don’t even notice the whirlwind that we have created?

Though the concept of “living in the now” sounds like New Age prattle, mindfulness reduces stress, boosts immunity, reduces chronic pain, lowers blood pressure and helps people cope with serious illnesses. It also contributes to greater self-respect and empathy, lessens defensiveness and reduces impulsivity that leads to reckless or destructive behavior.

“When people are not in the moment,” said Harvard psychologist Ellen Langer, “they’re not there to know they’re not there.” Psychology Today offers these tips for more mindful living.

• To improve your performance, stop thinking about it.

• To avoid worry about the future, focus on the present.

• To make the most of time, lose track of it.

Begin by simply paying attention to your immediate experience. What’s happening in this instant? Think of yourself as an eternal witness and just observe the moment. If your mind wanders, say to yourself, “Now. Now. Now.”

For more on mindful living, read Langer’s book, Mindlessness, Eckhart Tolle’s The Power of Now or Becoming Enlightened by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

By Casino Connection Staff