Live in the moment. It’s a phrase we often hear, but its meaning carries profound impact for our mental and emotional well-being. In today’s ultra-connected, high-speed digital world, the idea of living in the moment—of focusing deeply on the present—can feel nearly impossible. Yet, according to mindfulness experts, taking even ten minutes a day to center your awareness on the here and now can transform daily life.

Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, pioneer of mindfulness-based stress reduction and a leading voice in the field, recently spoke at an event at Dartmouth, where he highlighted how mindfulness helps us build resilience and maintain health even in chaotic environments. He explained that mindfulness practices allow us to “wake up” to our lives, supporting not only mental clarity but also our capacity for calm amidst stress.

Research from the Universities of Southampton and Bath, published last year, revealed that just ten minutes of daily mindfulness practice—often guided through free mobile apps—can significantly boost well-being and motivation, and reduce depression and anxiety. These brief moments of focused presence don’t just lift mood: they inspire people to make healthier lifestyle choices, whether that’s moving more, eating better, or sleeping more soundly.

The 2025 Meditation Practice Report finds most people prefer short, solo meditation sessions in the morning. But barriers still persist. The top two challenges reported by practitioners are lack of time and too many distractions—familiar hurdles in our notification-heavy lives.

To help listeners experience mindfulness directly, you might try a simple guided practice: Close your eyes, feel your breath as it moves in and out, and notice thoughts as they arise—without judgment or trying to change them. Each time your attention drifts, just gently bring it back to your breath.

Mindfulness speakers like Dan Harris and Dr. Kabat-Zinn emphasize that you don’t need hours of spare time or a silent retreat to benefit. Instead, a few intentional moments each day is enough to start reshaping your relationship to stress, technology, and the pace of modern living.

For those wanting to live more in the moment, experts suggest developing a consistent practice, finding community support, and setting daily reminders—all shown to help meditation become a sustainable, rewarding part of life. By integrating mindfulness in small but meaningful ways, we build the foundation for calmer minds, steadier emotions, and a deeper connection to everyday experience.