When it comes to being mindful, it’s not just a practice that is reserved for your personal life. Practicing mindfulness in your professional life and at the office can have several benefits including reducing work-related stress, improving your focus, and boosting your productivity.
If you find yourself overwhelmed at work or feeling unappreciative, it might be time to start thinking of ways you can be more mindful. Keep reading for some easy to follow tips on how you can practice being mindful at the office.
Conscious Concentration
Conscious concentration isn’t something you pick up overnight, it’s a skill that requires dedication and practice. But once you master it, conscious concentration can have several benefits like greater productivity and higher work quality.
At work, we often have the mindset that the more we can do at once the more productive we are. In reality, multitasking doesn’t lead to either higher productivity levels or better quality work. Instead, working on too many things at once can actually lower your productivity levels and impair your creativity.
When you practice conscious concentration you are training your brain to put all of the focus on one particular project. That means that your mind doesn’t wander off to think about the argument you had earlier that day or all of the looming deadlines you have yet to meet. The first step to conscious concentration is becoming aware of the fact that you’re taking on too much and applying the brakes.
Mindful Breathing
There are many exercises you can do to help you on your mindfulness journey, but none more effective than breathing. Taking a moment in your day to just breathe can help you clear your mind, refocus your energy and let go of any stress.
It’s a good idea to set a timer on your phone to remind yourself to take a breather is a great way to ensure that you are being mindful everyday.
Practice Active Listening
Most of the time when we’re having a conversation, we aren’t actually listening to what the other person is saying. We may be hearing them with our ears, but our minds are not in the present. If you find yourself daydreaming during a meeting, or worrying about other projects while someone is talking to you, active listening is a great way to practice being mindful at the office.
When you listen actively, you are making a conscious effort to be fully present when someone is talking to you. If you find your mind wandering, you can notice it and bring your thoughts back to the person in front of you.
An active listener is empathetic and using body language and facial expressions to engage with your conversation partner. Not only will practicing active listening help you be more mindful, but it will make the people you’re having a conversation with feel like they care.
Practicing mindfulness can help you refocus your energy on projects that matter, stay productive all day long, and be the best employee that you can be. With these easy to follow tips, being mindful at the office is as simple as taking a moment to breathe.
For more ways you can be more effective at work, check out our blog post “Why Productivity Isn’t Found in a Traditional 9 to 5 Office.”