The Art of Noticing
What happens when we slow down?
When was the last time you sat outside and did nothing? No phone. No screens. Not even a book.
I’ve seen this trend and a bunch of Reels on Instagram about “The Art of Noticing.” I didn’t realize until last week that I do this already. When it clicked, I realized how good this makes me feel.
There’s so many ways this could be said and framed – The Art of Noticing; Being mindful and/or present; Having appreciation; Holding and expressing gratitude; etc.
Essentially, this is about slowing down and intentionally using your senses. What do you see, hear, feel, taste and smell where you are at a moment in time. You’re not thinking about yesterday, last week, next week or next month.
You are fully immersed in the moment you are in.
For me, this is easiest done outside. Whether I’m taking a break from work or going for a walk. I genuinely love connecting to nature.
Things I love to notice while outside:
How the sun hits trees and leaves;
Sunlight that shines through branches;
Feeling the wind on my face and listening to it rustle plants;
Watching how trees and plants move in the wind;
The random smell of flowers in the air;
How my feet feel walking barefoot on grass;
And so much more.
I challenge you to sit outside for just three minutes. Don’t bring your phone. Don’t bring your laptop. Just you.
Listen to the birds chirping. Watch the clouds roll past. Feel the sun on your face and skin.
I promise you’ll feel better afterwards. You’ll have a sense of peace, happiness, appreciation and gratitude. The beauty, in noticing and finding these moments, is that you’re unplugged tuning into what makes you feel good + happy + alive.
Noticing Beyond Nature
This goes beyond nature. The art of noticing can be applied to all areas of your life. Be present in all that you do.
Be with your friends, and just be with them. Eat your food, and just eat your food. Work out, and just work out.
Take stock in how you feel while you do things.
Whether it’s who you’re spending your time with; the podcasts or music you’re listening to; your current training block; your hobbies or lack thereof; etc.
You know deep down if you like something. If it makes you happy, gives you energy, excites or relaxes you – keep it. Fill your life with said things.
The same goes for the opposite. Stop doing the things that make you feel terrible or give you the “ick.” Why put yourself through that?
Stop or limit your exposure to the things and people that drain you — You control how much or how little something is present in your life.
Benefits of Noticing
There are a lot of benefits that can come with the art of noticing. A lot of them are mental and social – how you feel, how you spend your time and what you’re learning. A few include:
Noticing details that often get overlooked
Maintaining focus
Being present / mindful
Controlling your engagement with the world
Reconnecting with yourself
Identifying and paying attention to what really matters to you
Disconnecting from what others and the world is trying to get you to pay attention to
I suggest you listen to this Art of Manliness podcast episode. Host Brett McKay interviews Author Rob Walker who wrote The Art of Noticing. I haven’t read it myself, but it’s now added to my “To Be Read” list.
In the episode, they talk about what it means to notice, why you should care, and exercises and practices to try.
Takeaways
Being still is difficult nowadays. We all have something that seems to consume us whether it’s our phones, work, thoughts, commitments, etc. This is all the more reason to implement habits that bring us into the present and into our bodies.
What can you notice this week?