Chaos to Calm - Rebirth in the Workplace
Rebirthing Chaos to Calm in the Workplace
Most jobs today place us in a fast-paced work zone as we are constantly bombarded with push notifications, hard and soft deadlines, and endless meetings with our coworkers and supervisors. For many young professionals, this leads to the feeling of being drained of the energy we need to function and the all-to-common “brain fatigue”. Others may coast through the day hardly noticing the small things, including even the time of day. We operate on auto-pilot – always reacting and responding not leaving time to pause, to think, or to breathe. It is during these difficult moments that we need to usher in a mindful state of existence or use the force that increases a meditative disposition.
Practicing a balanced state of mindfulness does not include dodging your responsibilities to go sit in your car or in an empty room for hours to get away from the noise of work. In fact, its goal is contrary. The aim is to bring your full attention from the past in order to place it in the present moment, one instance at a time. This mindfulness rebirth means to pay attention to the moment, to always focus on what’s happening right now. This can be comprised of our thoughts, our feelings, our surroundings, or our actions, but remember that this attention is non-judgmental. It is the opposite of autopilot; it’s full-on manual control. We need to slow down just enough to think clearly, to make more informed and coordinated decisions, and to facilitate the restraint we need to resist reacting out of impulse. It’s this type of transformative skill that not only impacts how well you work, but more importantly, how you feel while working.
Mindfulness is Key
In 2022, research from scholars at Harvard Business Review and others demonstrated that mindfulness has direct and indirect impacts on employee well-being by lowering stress levels and by improving feelings of happiness and satisfaction. It also improved overall work performance. Further, employees who integrated a concerted and determined mindfulness effort at work experienced less instances of burnout (a key correlate to work fatigue). And when individuals are not as burned out, they tend to be more attentive and less prone to respond with thoughtless impulse. Over time, I would anticipate a rebirth of workplace culture built on patience and compassionate civility. Improvements at work and improvements to your workplace self don’t have to be mutually exclusive.
Since everybody loves a good list of tips, let these ideas guide your return to work:
- Begin with intention – Before stepping out the door (or start as early as before stepping out of bed), take two minutes to pause and set an affirmative intention. Small acts of awareness help set the tone and mood for the entire day and gets you off to a start from a place of balance.
- Practice mindful breathing – Everything starts with the breath. When the day begins to grow long and your patience is short and thin, focus on those deep breaths (in through the nose, exhale out of the mouth). One of the cornerstones of the body’s formation is rest and resets. Taking even as little as 60 seconds of mindful breathing can realign focus.
- Do one thing at a time – I know, every employer and boss wants someone who can multitask. I think multitasking can be very beneficial…at certain times. Multitasking is one of the hardest things to accomplish when your mind and energy and focus are depleted. Instead, try slowing down and focusing on one task with greater concentration. You will be pleased with what you produced, and you will have allowed your mind and body to retune.
- Listen to your body and take breaks – Take sporadic moments within your day to just walk away. Your body is good at letting you know when its had enough and just needs a chance to recharge and rejuvenate. Also, listen to what your body is telling you through your mini-meditations and breaks. Don’t use your ears to listen, use your mind to hear.
- Learn to listen to others – This one tip I have heard many times over the years – “listen with intention to pay attention with the goal of understanding”. Try not to listen to respond. That type of selective or pseudo-listening is counterproductive. Listen to receive and not to respond. This increases your ability to empathize and connect with others while they are busy issuing commands or spreading gossip.
- Lastly, learn to reflect - At the end of the day, learn to release pinned up frustration and go do something you enjoy. Keep it simple, smile, and be grateful.
Life is full of ups and downs and overcoming obstacles. Don’t let work lead you down paths to unhappiness and dread. Remember your life and the things you do are only as powerful as you let them become. Practice regaining and retaining your focus wherever you are.
Stay mindful…
Rebirths
