To say that this year has been an emotional roller coaster due to COVID-19 and the effect it has had on society is an understatement. During times of uncertainty and stress, it’s helpful to remember that you’re not alone in how you feel!
Try this right now: Breathe in and out a few times. If your mind wanders, just notice that, accept that your mind has wandered, and refocus on your breathing.
This is a basic example of mindfulness, which is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us. Mindfulness is one of the best tools we can use to stay calm and sharpen job concentration and performance in general, but especially amid pandemic uncertainty. There are many ways to practice mindfulness in your day to day life, all you need to do is set aside some time and get into a routine.
Ready to get started on your journey? Here are a few ideas to try out!
Take part in a guided meditation:
For our Softheon employees, you can join our Talent & Culture Manager, Yvie, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for a guided group meditation session with carefully selected content to help ground, center and energize your day.
Additionally, YouTube and apps like Headspace are great resources to use if you’d like to be guided by a teacher during your meditation session.
Eat mindfully:
When you eat a meal while distracted by your computer, phone, tv, etc., you’re less likely to feel satisfied because you actually ‘missed out’ on the fact that you ate. Don’t try to multitask, work on focusing your attention on what’s in front of you.
Take a mindful walk:
Make time for a daily walk. While doing so, pay attention to the movement of your body and your surroundings. When you observe what’s going on around you, you may be surprised to find a whole new world you’ve never noticed before.
Listen wholeheartedly:
Sometimes it’s hard to truly listen to people when they’re talking to us, because we’re plotting what to say next, judging what they’re saying or getting lost in a daydream. During your conversations, make it your goal to fully listen to what the other person is saying to you, and trust that you will naturally know what the right thing is to say when it’s your turn to talk.
Observe your thoughts and emotions:
Remember, you’re not your thoughts, you’re the observer of them. As you observe, resist the urge to get carried away by any specific thought. By becoming more aware of your thoughts and non-judgmentally observing them as they come and go, you are being more present.
Before you get back to work, give that breathing exercise at the beginning of this post a try again. You’ll feel ready to take on the rest of your day!