It’s no secret that our jobs and our lives are stressful. Nearly 8 out of 10 employees in America regularly experience physical symptoms of stress at work which can have negative effects on our health including high blood pressure and depression.
One way to mitigate stress and enhance physical and mental health is through mindfulness: the secular, science-based practice of paying attention to the present moment without judgment. Recent studies tout the benefits of mindfulness for reducing stress and anxiety levels, encouraging positive emotions, and bolstering social connections and emotional intelligence – all things we need when trying to conquer the work week.
When you’re feeling overwhelmed or stressed at work, there are simple ways you can use mindfulness to pause and reset. Here are a few ideas to incorporate mindfulness into your workday for reduced stress and enhanced productivity.
Breathe. We may not have time to sit for a 10-minute mindfulness meditation, but we always have time to take a deep breath (or three!). When we are stressed or distracted, we tend to take shallow, hurried breaths. The next time you notice yourself getting frazzled, breathe deeply into and out of the lower abdomen. Breathing in this way massages your vagus nerve, which calms your central nervous system and takes you out of “fight or flight” mode.
Move. Sitting behind a desk or in the car for many hours each day can make it easy to forget that the mind and body are connected. Stay aware of your body by moving once per hour. Get up and stretch periodically or add a few extra steps to your walk to the restroom. Perhaps your coworker or friend is even open to having a walking meeting!
Practice single-tasking. While far from commonplace in the digital age, dedicating all your focus to one task at a time is actually the most efficient mode for your brain. Even if you can only prioritize single-tasking for 30 to 60 minutes, you can use that time to focus all your brainpower on your top priority task. You’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish!
Listen. When we are stressed and overwhelmed, it’s easy to forget that our lives are made up of moments. Connections with those around us are what make these moments memorable! You can always take a moment to ask your coworker how they are doing and listen wholeheartedly to their response. To stay present while in conversation, practice maintaining awareness of your own body and breath as you listen. Listen with open, engaged body language and attempt to understand your conversation partner rather than to fix their problem or share your own agenda. Mindful listening can transform relationships and bring more meaning to life.
Practice gratitude. Our brains have evolved to protect us with a negativity bias, meaning our brains are wired to cling to bad memories and discount good ones. Practice being extra aware of the good things by pausing to be grateful during your day, even if it’s something as small as a coworker who made you laugh or a nice cup of coffee or tea. A positive attitude at work will enhance your productivity and help you keep your stress levels down.
S.T.O.P. When you notice yourself stressed or frantic, that is actually a moment of mindful awareness. Instead of fighting against stress or strong emotions, S.T.O.P. and take a mindful pause:
- Stop what you’re doing
- Take a few deep breaths
- Observe your experience (thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations)
- Proceed with something that will support you in this moment.
Bringing mindfulness to your life and your work is a lifelong journey. The good news? Research studies show that even one mindfulness meditation or mindful pause can lower your stress levels and boost your mood. Start incorporating these mindfulness tips into your workday for enhanced productivity and overall wellbeing.
Ready to stress less and sleep better by committing to a daily mindfulness practice? Click here to learn more about upcoming research-backed applied mindfulness seminars in Dallas.
About Dorsey:
As Chief Mindfulness Officer of Mastermind Meditation, Dorsey Standish brings research-backed mindfulness and mindful movement to clients throughout the state of Texas. A lifelong learner and scientist, Dorsey has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and is enrolled in the UT Dallas Applied Cognition and Neuroscience Master’s Program. After mindfulness transformed her own work, health and relationships, Dorsey left her corporate role at Texas Instruments to share the power of mindfulness with others full-time. Dorsey’s teachings combine neuroscience research with her experiences in Jon Kabat-Zinn’s Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program and multiple weekend and 10-day silent meditation retreats. Join Dorsey for one of Mastermind’s upcoming applied mindfulness programs at mastermindmeditate.com/programs.
Dr. Koshi Dhingra has dedicated her career to STEM education and is passionate about having every child live up to their potential. Seeing a lack of girls and other underrepresented youth in STEM programs, she founded talkSTEM in 2015 to address the imbalance. She has a doctorate in science education from Teachers College, Columbia University, has years of experience teaching in graduate and undergraduate programs, and has held leadership roles in universities. She advises and collaborates with a broad range of educational institutions globally. Dr. Dhingra began her career teaching science in middle and high school in New York. She lives in Dallas, Texas with her husband, three children, and two dogs.
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