For those of us who have suffered abuse or trauma, being in the present moment can be especially hard to achieve. This is because we have impaired concentration and can be easily distracted: we frequently find ourselves simply staring at the wall!

The Chinese call this “kòng bái ding zhe”, or “white space staring”. But what can we do to help pull ourselves back to real time?

1: Firstly, notice when you are “zoning out”.

2: Find three things that you like the smell of: flowers, soap, tea, coffee, perfume, a candle – and go and smell one of them.

3: Doing the above has hopefully made you get up and you’ve broken the stare. Now take a deep breath, hold for the count of four and repeat a further four times.

4: Stretch your limbs and have a glass of water or your preferred drink.

5: Now tackle the next hour of work, studies, or chores with a more focused mind, and rely on this method as many times as you need throughout your day.

When we are in “white space” mode, doing the above things helps to evoke our senses and bring us back to real time. Try other methods, such as getting up for a snack, or reading an article in a magazine, or any method of your choice to help you break the “white space staring” and improve your productivity.