We live in a fast paced world. Overbooked schedules, tight deadlines and busy social calendars—so much of our modern life requires us to hurry up and get things done. In all this hustle and bustle, it can be difficult to pay attention and enjoy what matters. In response, a growing number of people associated with the “slow living” movement are finding ways to live their lives in a more mindful manner. Slow living doesn’t mean being inefficient, instead it means being more present in the moment.

We have all gotten used to multitasking, so implementing slow living into your daily life can be a challenge. Here are a few ideas about how to become more present, so that you can wholly focus on work when its time to work and on relaxing when its time to relax.

Examine your habits

The first step to changing your habits is to recognize them. How present are you in each moment of your life? A great way to figure this out is to keep a journal. Every night before you go to bed replay your day, writing down everything you did and any recurring thoughts you had. Don't read back on prior entries until a week has passed. At that point, read through all your entries. You'll probably notice that certain thoughts intrude more frequently than others. Now, create a list of your top 10 distractions and then schedule time during the upcoming week to take action to resolve them. See how this works for you, and get into a new habit of becoming conscious of what distracts you and finding ways to deal with your distractions proactively.

Get things in order

Stuff accumulates. Unless, of course, we take action to prevent buildup. Junk mail, bills, email, old receipts, unused trinkets, stale food—these are just some of the things we must purge ourselves of regularly, otherwise our lives become cluttered. If your cell phone rings and you have to rummage through your purse for a few minutes because it’s filled with extra papers, you’re going to feel a sense of urgency. If you arrive home after work and are greeted by a pile of neglected bills and junk mail, how can you focus on relaxing?

Depending on your current level of disorganization, getting your life in order may require a serious time commitment. But it’s well worth the effort. Make a point of setting aside some time one weekend to purge yourself of everything that’s unnecessary, from the growing bag of recycling in your kitchen to the old sweaters stored in your closet. Afterwards, prevent accumulation by getting into a routine. Schedule time every week to clear your desk, deal with junk mail…basically anything that piles up. You’ll be surprised to learn how clearing clutter from your life really enables you focus more on the moment.

Reevaluate your schedule

Are you stressed by an overbooked schedule? If so, take a critical look at your schedule last month and analyze how you spent your time. How many of those things did you enjoy doing? See what items you can remove. It is okay to say no to commitments that you are not excited about. It is also okay to schedule time to do nothing. Some of the most inspired experiences happen when you let the moment take you where it wants, rather than always sticking to a plan.

It’s all about following your heart

Simple living is not a foreign way of life. On the contrary, it’s much more natural than the way many of us live today. Although modern life has a lot of benefits, all the extra technology and information is associated with speed. And oftentimes speed infringes on our enjoyment of daily living…that is, of course, if we let it. After all, for centuries people have lived simply. It’s absolutely possible to follow their example.

In the end, deciding to live slowly is really about opting for the best of both worlds—trying to find balance between the advantages of modern-day comforts and everyday pleasures. Ultimately that’s goal, isn’t it? Learning how to take advantage of technology and innovation while simultaneously staying present in the moment.