In our haste to rush through life, and get s*#! done, we overlook the little things.

And, it’s the little things that sustain us in the long run. The little joys in life, the ones that give us a sense of peace and happiness, are always there despite life’s up and downs. In sickness and health, these are the gems that put life’s inevitable jolts into perspective.

Living your life in the moment helps you rejuvenate and reduce anxiety; in fact, meditation has been shown to actually rebuild your brain. A study conducted by Harvard showed that over 8 weeks of meditation, researchers found, “increased gray-matter density in the hippocampus, known to be important for learning and memory, and in structures associated with self-awareness, compassion, and introspection.”

“Mindfulness is simply being aware of what is happening right now without wishing it were different; enjoying the pleasant without holding on when it changes (which it will); being with the unpleasant without fearing it will always be this way (which it won’t).” ~James Baraz

According to GSS, Americans are increasingly more miserable, on the decline since the 1990’s. We work long hours, 33% of us work 45+ hours a week and a whopping 10 million clock in 60+ hours a week. We sleep less, on average 6.5 hours a night, all to chase the all mighty dollar. Yet, a study from Princeton University found that after $75,000, making more money doesn’t boost your day-to-day happiness. And no surprise, we report that we are happiest on the weekends.

Living a full life is often about balance, and our current trajectory is out of whack. It’s unsustainable. Living in the present moment, noticing the little things, and letting go of the things you can’t control can be challenging—but with practice it becomes easier and in the process you learn alot about yourself. When centenarians share their secrets to living a long life, it’s the simple things, like having a daily piece of chocolate, that they remember. After interviewing a cohort of 100+ year olds, Good Housekeeping writes, “Besides wine and coffee, one theme reigns supreme when it comes to longevity: less stress. "Forget about it!" That's the motto former teacher Jo Sunderland lives by, and she turned 107 in January. "Don't worry about the little things if you can't do anything about it."“

Slowing down and paying attention to detail may help you live longer, but it can also help you solve problems, boost creative thinking, and help you see patterns by giving your brain a rest—an opportunity to make connections you otherwise would have missed. Ultimately, you will be more productive. Take off your headphones, listen. Ditch binge watching and bake a layer cake from scratch. Take a walk and notice the little kids that are relishing a muddy puddle (just like once upon a time, you used to do).