does anyone else just can't live in the present?

[thecoldest]

hi all. recently i've been struggling with "living in the moment", as some would say. i am always waiting for things to be over, even those that are supposedly made for you to enjoy, like watching a movie--every time i do that, i can't wait for it to be over, because i get bored so easily. i may be watching things i'm not very interested, that's fair, but it is so hard to find one that does not make me feel that way. i always want things to be over, but i don't exactly know why, it's not like i'm eager to do something, you know? i have nothing to wait for, but for some reason i always do. i get bored when i try to do something but i am also bored when i do nothing. i don't know. i think one of the things i do enjoy is writing (which is part of the reason why i am currently sharing this) but i'm not creative enough to do that all of the time, and if i write about my feelings it would be just sad, lol. anyway, i guess that's it. let me know if you understand the feeling and/or feel the same, please.

 

[Forever Sleep]

I don't suffer excessively from this although, it is creeping in. I find myself restless watching films. I often end up looking on my phone at the same time. YouTube videos I'll only watch if they're a few minutes. I'm sure it's on demand media, fast paced media and shorts that have done this to me.

I listened to a YouTube short documentary about the generation that grew up in the 80's. That's just about me- although I was too young to remember most of it. But, it went through how scheduled television- not so much on demand, varying paced media, games without save checkpoints and other things taught us patience.

I think that might be true. Since becoming more used to everything being on demand, being able to switch from this to that, having games that save your progress, I have far less patience than I used to.

I suppose a short attention span is often labelled as a symptom of ADHD. Do you think that might be possible?

 

[LittleSunshine]

"Realize deeply that the present moment is all you have. Make the NOW the primary focus of your life." -Eckhart Tolle

I followed his teachings for over a decade, and they were effective for a period of time before I gradually lost my connection to them. Now I experience resentment toward the present moment. My heightened awareness has made the concept of "living in the moment" challenging at times, particularly because of physical complaints, though it still serves as a useful way to disengage from emotions, (intrusive) thoughts, and feelings.

To wish for the end of a moment is to deny its presence and therefore a form of future-living. Even if you're not eager for something specific or waiting for anything in particular. Boredom is often an expression of impatience.

Patience can be practiced with meditation or mindfulness exercises. Have you ever tried that?

If you really enjoy writing, then please keep doing it. Non-judgment is a very important element of mindfulness. Let thoughts like, "but I'm not creative enough to do that all the time," and "if I write about my feelings, it would just be sad, lol," be what they are. You can never control those emerging thoughts, but you can decide to accept that they're allowed to be there and not judge them.

 

[Pluto]

 

[Arachno]

I never live in the present, 90% of my day to day life is just daydreaming. I used to be pretty creative a few years ago, so much so that when I look back on stuff I created I can't believe that I made all that, but now my creativity is pretty much dead. I understand the feeling very well, I always want to do something but when I get down to it I almost always end up getting bored or tired of it, my OCD also makes it very hard to get stuff done, especially when writing. :(

 

[thecoldest]

I don't suffer excessively from this although, it is creeping in. I find myself restless watching films. I often end up looking on my phone at the same time. YouTube videos I'll only watch if they're a few minutes. I'm sure it's on demand media, fast paced media and shorts that have done this to me.

I listened to a YouTube short documentary about the generation that grew up in the 80's. That's just about me- although I was too young to remember most of it. But, it went through how scheduled television- not so much on demand, varying paced media, games without save checkpoints and other things taught us patience.

I think that might be true. Since becoming more used to everything being on demand, being able to switch from this to that, having games that save your progress, I have far less patience than I used to.

I suppose a short attention span is often labelled as a symptom of ADHD. Do you think that might be possible?

it probably has to do with fast paced media too, but it's so hard to change that now. i don't think it's adhd as i never had real problems in my life because of it, i always did great at school and stuff--not saying that people with adhd necessarily struggle with that, btw.
but yeah, i really have no patience, lol. sometimes when i'm waiting for my bus to come i start getting breathless because i feel so restless. guess the only way to change that is building tolerance again :/

Patience can be practiced with meditation or mindfulness exercises. Have you ever tried that?

If you really enjoy writing, then please keep doing it. Non-judgment is a very important element of mindfulness. Let thoughts like, "but I'm not creative enough to do that all the time," and "if I write about my feelings, it would just be sad, lol," be what they are. You can never control those emerging thoughts, but you can decide to accept that they're allowed to be there and not judge them.

i have never tried mediation, no. but i will do now, thanks for the advice!
will also take the advice to just keep writing, too. i struggle a bit with toughts like "i have do this thing when i am the correct mood" a lot, so instead of just doing stuff i end up never doing them because i don't feel in the "right moment", but at this point i figured it's better to just do it anyway.

I never live in the present, 90% of my day to day life is just daydreaming. I used to be pretty creative a few years ago, so much so that when I look back on stuff I created I can't believe that I made all that, but now my creativity is pretty much dead. I understand the feeling very well, I always want to do something but when I get down to it I almost always end up getting bored or tired of it, my OCD also makes it very hard to get stuff done, especially when writing. :(

I TOTALLY GET THAT! i also feel that i used to be way more creative, omg. and i also have ocd, but since i started taking meds for it, it has helped A LOT, like it literally changed my life, i swear. abilify is a lifesaver.

 

[calebzz1]

I understand what you are saying.

I feel like I'm living for the future because the present is moment to moment and I can't truly relax due to being immensely impaired visually.

The only two hobbies I can enjoy in the moment are listening to music and dancing while the others i.e. playing videogames, reading books, watching television and movies are impossible due to my inability to maintatin clear and consistent sight.

I pour my focus on long-term goals instead like relevant appointments that will actually help boost my overall function and obtaining disability benefits.