“Without giving up hope—that there is somewhere better to be, that there is someone better—we will never rest with where we are or who we are.” – Pema Chödrön
Hhow do you “appear” at work? We spend so much of our lives busy with studies and careers that it’s worth asking ourselves how the work environment and culture we’re a part of aligns with our most authentic selves. One way to do this is to spend some time defining your core values and carefully consider how these personal values are reflected in your school or company’s culture, job descriptions, and core job activities. How much is yours? your truest self do you have to give up to be at your best at work?
according to the American Institute of Stress80% of people feel stressed at work. Not only that, but the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention a staggering 75% of all doctor’s office visits are reported to be stress-related. These figures alone are enough to signal as a wake-up call that the workplace is a significant source of stress for many of us. It is crucial to consider strategies that we can use in our daily lives to act as a buffer against the negative effects of work stress on our lives. Mindfulness This is one way to reduce the effects of stress on our physical, mental and emotional health.
According to Warr (1987), there are nine basic factors in the work environment that contribute to mental health, or quality of work life: (a) opportunity for control, (b) opportunity for skill use, (c) externally generated goals, (d) variety, (e) environmental cleanliness, (f) availability of money, (g) physical security, (h) opportunity for interpersonal contact, and (i) esteemed social position. Warr (2007) considered these factors to act as a “vitamin” or protective function and argued that a lack of these nine factors can lead to reduced levels of overall well-being. To what extent are these nine essential factors fulfilled in your current work environment?
Learning to be more attentive at work it can help reduce your overall stress levels, increase your awareness of the present moment, and even improve the quality of your interactions with coworkers. Consider how present you feel on any given work day…does the average work day seem like a drag? Are you bored or watching the hours go by? Or maybe you find yourself so busy that you are overwhelmed with activity that you barely have time to stop to take a deep breath? Whatever your current level of awareness in the workplace, there is always room for improvement.
Tips for raising awareness in the workplace
Consider these tips to increase your own level mindfulness in the workplace and choose one that you want to start practicing right away:
Make mini meditations a habit
Take three to five minutes out of your workday to intentionally practice mindfulness. It could be as simple as setting a reminder on your phone to take ten slow deep breaths… before you go on your lunch break. It can also mean choosing to practice mindfulness every day by being intentionally slower, more intentional, more open, curious, and focused on the work at hand. non judgmental way.
Practice “office yoga”
This idea of “office yoga” sounds a little silly at first, but it should mean gently stretching at your desk. This might mean reminding yourself to stand up every once in a while and stretch your arms overhead or out to the side. If you have a job where you have the opportunity to be less sedentary, use the time you spend “in motion” to stretch your body and take a deep breath. vigilance in motion.
Be present with others
People can usually tell when another person seems confused, thinking about something else, or not paying attention. One of the greatest gifts we can give another person is our undivided attention. Consider how to intentionally pay attention to what your coworkers say to you, how they say it, and the emotion(s) behind it. You may be surprised at how different your interactions with others can become when you become more mindful interpersonal job.
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Warr, PB (1987). Work, unemployment and mental health. Oxford, England: Clarendon Press.
Warr, PB (2007). Work, happiness and unhappiness. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.
Featured image: working small by birth / CC BY 2.0
