I read this passage in a recent article and was really struck by it: “It’s no surprise that online work is depleting our energy and resilience. The evidence shows that many of us are working longer hours, suffering chronic stress, and burning out at levels the world has never witnessed. At the same time, we’re longing for and losing our social connections and sometimes experiencing profound loneliness and grief in solitude. To regain energy, find renewed pleasure in our work, and truly connect with colleagues and friends, we need to find ways to block out the noise in our virtual reality.
One way we can do that is through cultivating mindfulness.
Mindfulness is the choice we make to be present in the here and now: This moment, in this meeting, with this person or group of people. Research shows that most activities of our working lives, from working on an independent task to team meetings and one-on-ones, benefit from being conducted with mindfulness. By pausing, checking in with others, or starting meetings with a few moments of meditation or reflection, stress levels drop and we feel more connected to our purpose and to others in the room. We listen better and feel happier.
But how can we be mindful in an online working world?”
Read the entire Harvard Business Review article “Staying Mindful When You’re Working Remotely” for deeper insights on how to shift your focus:
- From doing to being
- From future to present – be here, now
- From me to you
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Five Simple Ways You Can Bring Mindfulness to Work
Here are some ways you can incorporate “purposeful pauses” into your work day. Suggestions are adapted from the Institute for Mindful Leadership:
- Notice the sensations of your breath before leaving your bed first thing in the morning. What is your intention for the day?
- Intentionally transition to and from work each day – even if it’s walking into another space in your home. Pay attention to all your senses. What do you notice as you arrive?
- Eat lunch mindfully without the distraction of your phone, TV, or computer.
- Take an intentional break between meetings – allow for a few breaths, a stretch, or short walk without digital distractions.
- As you turn off your computer at the end of your day, ask yourself “What went well?”