Be in the present

You arrive home from work. As you cook, you think about the yet-to-be-finished urgent work you did  just before leaving (late) from office. Your children are buzzing around you but you are only half-listening/watching.

In another case, you're working out in the gym but your mind plays out the argument you had with your partner earlier that day.

I believed we all have a tendency of thinking about many things other than what we are doing at that time. I used to be a lot worse but I got better ever since I joined yoga classes. In particular, I remember what a yoga instructor always told the attendees at the start of the class (not verbatim): " You have already set aside this hour to practice yoga. So leave all other thoughts behind. Make full use of your time here by focusing on yoga. Give your hour to this practice"

I find this very useful. Not only you'll be better at whatever you're doing (hey, surely you want to avoid burning your food while cooking, right? :) ), you're actually giving your mind a rest and minimise cluttering.

You want to think about work? Do it during working hours. You want to have a rough plan of how to continue that particular urgent work tomorrow? Write it down before you leave. Once you leave office, keep all work matters out of your mind.

You're thinking of how to patch up with your partner? Sit quietly and think about it. Don't do anything else. Of course you can always consult someone else but the point is be focused on the task at hand. When you're at gym, focus on your work out. Not only is this good for your body, it's good for your mind as well.

If you can, meditate before you sleep. Focus on your breathing. Don't form opinion. Just acknowledge and move on. It's a good way to fall asleep.

Be in the present, in whatever you do.