How to stop DEREALISATION and start feeling more present?

Considering reasons for this situation we can vary consumptionism that is widely present these days. We chase success and money. And finally, there is no finish line. You can always achieve more and more and the pressure for that is greater than common sense of some people. That results in constant rush and not focusing on the moment.

A good way to check if you live in derealisation is by trying to remember what you ate for breakfast for the past 3 days. Sounds easy, but many people can’t remember that at all.

Obviously, we cannot focus and remember everything that happens in our lives because we would lose our minds. Some things are automatically done by us and that is a part of our everyday routine. Basically having a routine is crucial but only if it doesn’t make us feel derealised.

So if you have such problem, I can tell you an interesting way of coping with it.

Generally we vary 5 basic senses:

1. taste

2. sight

3. smell

4. hearing

5. touch

Each of these is natural for us, we do not need any equipment or experience to use them. So what I’m about to explain to you is quite easy.

1. Taste

You can easily make yourself feel more present during eating a meal. Before you automatically swallow a piece of food try to feel it in your mouth, play with it using your tounge or bite it unnaturally slowly. At this moment you are directing your focus on eating and being present while consuming your meal. Obviously, do not do it with every bite because not only will you spend twice the amount of time you would usually spend on eating but it will be simply weird.

2. Sight

This trick is personally my favourite one. Try to find a basic item like for example a pen and try to look at it as if you are seeing it for the first time in your life. Study every part of the chosen item carefully. This exercise forces us to pay attention to details that can also make us feel more present. Details matter.

3. Smell

In this exercise you basically focus on smells that are around you. It would be helpful if you closed your eyes during that. Unfortunately, this also means that you will probably have to focus on bad smells from time to time.

4. Hearing

This trick is also very useful and one of my personal favorites. Just close your eyes and focus on every sound around you. Try to understand how many sounds our brains hear all the time and how we do not pay attention to it at all.

5. Touch

While doing this exercise you need to try feeling all surfaces you are touching at a particular moment. It can be a chair you are sitting on or a pillow your head is resting on. Basically, everything your body has contact with, even your clothes. That way you can stay aware of your surroundings.

We vary 5 types of these focus exercises but everybody can choose which one suits them the most and makes them feel present. Doing these exercises from time to time will definitely help with derealisation and improve your focus.

Just give it a try!