Four Simple Ways For You To Embrace Mindfulness At Work
When people talk about mindfulness, you might muster up images of yoga mats and spas, perhaps on a beach looking out onto the ocean. So when someone talks about mindfulness at work, it seems like the two can’t mix. But there are strategies to help you cope at work, especially those strategies that embrace mindfulness. You don’t have to get a yoga mat out and be doing warrior pose at your desk! Practicing mindfulness can help you to be more productive and help you feel better and more confident. So it has got to be worth a try, right?
Take Deep Breaths
If you can’t find time to meditate for five or ten minutes at work, because, who can? Then you can certainly find time to take deep breaths. To start off with, you might find that you have to stop everything else that you are doing. But over time, when you’re in a stressful meeting or situation, you can take the time to take three or four deep breaths, and it will get you feeling back to normal. All of that oxygenated air can help you to think more clearly, and it will regulate your breathing. And after you’ve been stressed out, that will help a lot, as well as calming your blood pressure.
Take a Small Time Out
When it is your time for a break, try to do something useful during that time. For you, it might be to make a list of things that need to be done and also tick off what has been achieved that day. It could be that sitting reading a book helps to feel less stressed and more mindful. It could be that you like to look up psychic phone numbers and have a quick chat before heading back to your desk. A quick walk outside might be your break time routine of choice. Whatever it is, make sure you take the breaks that you need.
Visualize Outcomes
When you are at work, you will be faced with various stressful situations. You might have a client meeting with someone who is notoriously hard to please. You might have never met someone before, and an important contract is riding on it. But you need to think positive. Taking a couple of minutes before you have to go in can make a huge difference. Think positively and visualize a positive outcome. When you go in there confident and positive, it shows in more ways. Your body language will be more positive, as well as how you come across and how you speak.
Listen
Think about the time you have talked to colleagues recently. When was the last time that you properly listened to the person talking to you? Without distractions or your mind wandering to your to-do list? Next time you’re approached, take the time out to really listen to them and what they are saying. It will improve your relationships with colleagues at work, as well as how you feel, no end.