Mindfulness and Self-Care in the Workplace
I’ve never considered myself a writer. However, about 4 years ago, the universe started planting little seeds that I might have some competency in writing. You see, when I allow myself space and time to be bored and present, the words seem to flow. And when I go back and read them after, I think, “this isn’t too bad” or “wow that does sound like real wisdom.” Below is the very first blog post I wrote.
When a friend asked me to guest blog for him 4 years ago, I thought here is another little seed from the universe. But the doubt crept in…do I have anything meaningful to say? What if that wisdom and creativity doesn’t come forth? I don’t have a reputation or identity as a writer. You see the life I left behind when I chose to stay home with my family 10 years ago, was one of great reward for my ego (Ego is called Ashmita in the Yoga teachings). I was driven, smart and likeable in the corporate world. I was rewarded for my drive, my intellect and my likeability. I had a clear identity, I was a business executive. But while my identity seduced my ego, there was another part of me that was unsettled by what I saw in the business world.
The higher I rose in the company, the more stress, the more demands and the more I could feel myself slipping away. You see my pure self is the part of me that isn’t attached to an identity; the part that isn’t changed by my circumstances. But according to the yoga teachings, the scariest of all releases is letting go of our attachments to our self-identity.
Today, as a trained Yoga Instructor, I have learned tools that are useful for anyone but especially for people in demanding highly intense job environments where circumstances of your job might pull you further and further away from your authentic self. How I wish I had this knowledge and these tools when I was in corporate America. Companies that want their employees to be more mindful, more present might want to consider that mindfulness really starts with the individual prioritizing self-care and staying connected to that pure self.
Mindfulness
Mind/Body Connection
Being in the Present moment
Work Life Balance
Meditation
Yoga
All these practices are becoming more and more mainstream in business acumen especially as employers try to uncover the key to stress reduction in the workplace. In fact, for the last several years companies have been launching big initiatives around stress management and mindfulness. Many companies offer fitness and yoga classes on site.
Study after study confirms that a regular practice in awareness of our breathing and allowing the mind time to be still can have lifelong health benefits. But do we need these big initiatives and people telling us to be more mindful to really live it in our everyday lives? I would argue that these initiatives certainly help, but I would also say that we need support and encouragement to prioritize regular self-care and that mindfulness will naturally follow. What is self-care you might ask? It is taking time to do things that fill our tank, that ignite our spirit and that uncover our creativity. Self-care is also nurturing our health by giving our self down time, a break from the grind and a chance to feel bored. Just like our kids, we have become accustomed to constant stimulation, constant entertainment and constant doing versus being. But our creativity becomes more and more distant when we clutter our mind with stuff. How would better self-care practices translate to a business setting?
Without question, if company leaders model and practice self care, they will begin to see changes in their interactions with employees. The ability to see more clearly with a sharper mind that is less attached to outcomes and more attached to intention, can result in fewer workplace misunderstandings, better communication, higher productivity and overall job satisfaction. Company leaders need regular routine and self-care just as much as their employees. Why not try and encourage others to try these easy practical steps for self-care in the fall and winter months. And an added bonus will be you and your employees might get sick less often. You might just find a new connection with creative potential that you didn’t even know you had.
4 tips for Self-Care
Create a morning ritual and stick to it. Ideas – rise 30 minutes before the sun, Have a glass of warm water with a squeeze of lemon upon rising, Take 5 minutes to think about the things you are grateful for. Then jump in the shower and get on with your day
Throughout the day begin to observe your breathing. Relax your abdomen as you inhale through your nose and slightly contract your navel in toward your spine during exhale. Make sure you aren’t breathing in reverse – you should not suck your belly in on inhale. The more you practice breath awareness, the more natural it will become and you won’t have to think about it. Our breath can speak volumes about our minds. Labored or rough breathing can be a reflection of a mind that is overwhelmed, distracted or anxious. Breathing that is even, smooth and controlled reflects a mind that is content, sharp, clear and focused.
Sip warm water throughout the day instead of ice cold water especially in the colder months.
Spend time in nature to clear the mind and connect with your true self.