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One of my biggest mistakes when I'm teaching my students is when I get caught up in worrying about which lesson plan to follow. I start to worry about what we should practice or study so they can improve and ensure their grades continue to improve. Then, I find myself dwelling on what we did last week and worrying whether my boss or their parents will approve of the lesson we are working on.

As I delve deeper into this rabbit hole, I lose sight of what's most important. Then, something happens, and I snap out of it, reminding myself to focus on what I can do today. After all, I don't know what my students experienced today at school, or whether they completed their tests or homework. So, I take a deep breath and focus on what's in front of us. Yes, I am a big believer in planning, but it's easy to over-plan and lose sight of what truly matters.

Do you ever find yourself getting caught up in worries about whether you're doing the right thing with your kids? I often question if I'm even a good tutor. I worry if I'm saying the right things and guiding them in the right way. But whenever I start getting consumed by these worries, I realize that I'm not being present in the moment. I completely forget to focus on the here and now.

Well, I've discovered one tip that helps me snap out of it, and I think it can help you too in being present in the moment. But before we continue this conversation, go support the sponsor we love today, here’s a quick ad for them.

Here's one of my little secrets that I indulge in during my pastime: I love watching Olympic track stars and their highlights. Despite never having run track myself and not being a fan of running—maybe except for once a year—I was actually a band geek. But when I see these athletes running, like Usain Bolt, I often wonder what's going through their minds when they hear the starting signal and break into a sprint. From my assumptions, I can tell you that they're probably only focused on what's directly in front of them in that moment—just running as fast as they can.

I'm pretty sure Usain Bolt doesn't think about his first race or one of his biggest mess-ups in a previous race. I doubt he gets consumed by thoughts like, 'Will I be fast enough in the next race after this?' I think we can all agree that when he starts a race, his entire focus is on being the fastest person on the track. He's not dwelling on his past wins or losses or worrying about his future speeds. It's all about what he can do in that moment.

This is something I find myself doing every time I start to get worried or caught up in the lesson plan—letting go of my mistakes and not worrying about the future, but instead, being present in the moment. I know this might sound obvious, but I'm learning that whenever I worry—and I bet you find yourself in the same situation—it's never about what's happening right in front of you. It's usually because of past events that cause you to worry, maybe past traumas or fears, or things from the future that you worry about, like whether I'll hit my goals or become the parent I want to be.

Listen, to become great at something, you have to be fully present so you can focus on what you can do now.

*Please give a gentle round of applause too…*