4 Ways to be Mindful in the Workplace

No matter if you are an entrepreneur, employee, manager, or in an entry-level position, no matter if you work in an office or work from home, work can be busy, chaotic and stressful. Every day can be new adventures, new tasks, new failures, and new stresses.

Unless you work completely on your own it can be hard to focus. Often times when you work alone it can be hard to focus and keep focused on the moment at hand. Life, drama, relationships, children, health concerns and so much more could be on our mind and distracting us from our work. What can help with this? Mindfulness. Being mindful and in the moment can help you focus, stay motivated, and productive throughout your work day.

What is Mindfulness?

Mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us. Mindfulness is an ability we all have but some are able to do it easier than others.

Mindfulness is not some unachievable feat we all do it throughout the day without truly thinking about it. Have you ever sat with a spouse at dinner spoke with them, focused on them and the moment with them, no phone, no distractions? That is being mindful and in the moment.

You do not have to change anything about who you are to be mindful.

How can mindfulness help with day to day work?

Mindfulness can build attention and help minimize mistakes.

Attention is a necessary skill when you’re working. Often times you may actually have a job that means life or death if a mistake is made. The attention you give to work in the moment is absolutely necessary.

Mindfulness can improve self-regulation

Being mindful during work can help you regulate your feelings, your emotions, and your frustrations. By helping you learn to compartmentalize certain aspects of your life when in the work setting you are able to keep attention, stay motivated, and be productive without those emotional upsets causing you problems.

What are some ways to improve your mindfulness while at work?

Be consciously present

When at work put aside worries about home, marriage, relationships, family, etc. Be present in the moment while you’re at work in what you are doing and what is being asked of you. When you find your mind moving to things not related to work in that moment, which you will we are all human, bring your thoughts back to the moment and the task at hand.

Do Not Multi-Task

Multi-tasking actually can harm productivity drastically. By focusing on too many tasks at hand we tend to drop the ball on one or do another in a lackluster manner. The better way to be productive and mindful is to create time blocks and focus on one task at a time.

Teach Yourself that Stress is Not Your Enemy

Stress, when you believe it has a negative impact on you, likely will. However, if you believe stress is good for you it’s possible to be positive, efficient, and relaxed even during stressed times.

Be Grateful

Gratitude for the moment, who you are, your work, what your job provides you (home, food, heat, etc) can keep the stress of tasks manageable.

Sarah

Sunrise VA Services