Mindfulness at Work

Mindfulness is the art of living in the present moment. Many of us go through life on autopilot. We focus too much on our thoughts and this can cause unhappiness.

By living in the present we realise that a lot of our stress and anxiety is unnecessary.  Mindfulness helps reduce stress, and according to the Forbes article “A Guide to Mindfulness at Work”, it improves memory, enhances emotional intelligence and lowers blood pressure.

How do you become more mindful in the context of a busy workday? You may have phone calls, emails, meetings and presentations to deal with. In the middle of all that, how can you apply the principle of mindfulness so that you fell more alive and present, as well as productive?

Here you have some really accessible mindfulness practices that you can add in during your workday that don’t take much time yet provide with the benefits of slowing down or increase productivity among others benefits.

Take breaks
No matter your schedule, you’ve got to let yourself pause and give your mind and body a break on you’ll yourself in a cycle of feeling like there’s never enough time. One good idea is to set a timer that goes off every 60-80 minutes and reminds you to pause.

Mindful eating
Eating is at he very heart of our well-being, and yet so many of us take it for granted. Mindful eating helps us to re-tune our awareness to the simple act of nourishment. By doing so, we cultivate a fresh appreciation for food and the environment around us in the here-and-now.

When you have a meal, make sure you focus solely on the experience. No working as you eat. No watching television or surfing the Internet. Just let it be you, the food and the present moment.

Mindful attitude
It takes time to develop a mindful attitude. The cultivation of mindful habits, such as walking, eating and listening, creates the ground from which a truly mindful attitude emerges.

Notice judgement
One of the main points of mindfulness is acceptance, especially choosing to believe that your thoughts and feelings are not wrong. One good practice to try is to simply notice the self-judgement that happens during your day. When you notice a judgmental thought, try to greet it internally and take a breath while you let go of the thought.

These practices will invite you to begin to notice how it feels to pause and get present in the midst of your workday.