Taking just ten minutes out of your day for mindfulness can not only make a difference to how you feel and how effectively you work, it can also help build your resilience to deal more effectively with life’s inevitable challenges and setbacks.
Everyday mindfulness
Part of the beauty of mindfulness is that you can practise it anywhere and anytime – indoors, outside, in the morning or before you go to bed. By simply acknowledging what’s happening around you and pausing to observe your thoughts, feelings and sensations, you can gain a greater sense of perspective and calm.
Mindful meditation
Mindful meditation is a great way to get some “me time” – that is, having time to yourself to do something that enriches your life. It focuses on deep diaphragmatic breathing as way of returning you to each moment, helping to calm the mind and body. When practising meditation, we simply notice thoughts and feelings as they arise then we allow them to pass without judgement, coming back, once again, to your breath. You can do this in addition to everyday mindfulness – for example as part of winding down before bed.
Is it right for you?
Mindfulness can help anyone who might feel overrun by their thoughts. It can help to quieten the negative thoughts that can crowd our minds and undermine our confidence or lead us to procrastinate.
Improving your interpersonal skills
Mindfulness can also help with emotional intelligence whereby you become more attuned to – and aware of – your own emotions as well as those of others. This, in turn, can help to improve mutual understanding and resolve conflicts more effectively. Furthermore, it’s suggested that emotional intelligence is an important quality of a successful business leader, and so a valuable skill to hone.
Physical benefits
Mindfulness boasts physical benefits, too. It has been found to reduce blood pressure, boost the immune system and reduce the stress hormone cortisol. It also improves musculoskeletal health.
So since you’ve taken the time to read this article, why not take another five minutes now to try spell mindfulness? Relax, measure your breathing and just enjoy being in the moment. What a difference a break makes!
For more information to help support the health and wellbeing of your employees please visit: axappphealthcare.co.uk/smallbusinessinsight
References:
12017, Harvard. Emotional Intelligence is no soft skill. https://www.extension.harvard.edu/professional-development/blog/emotional-intelligence-no-soft-skill
2.2016, Group Health Research Institute, University of Washington: Effects of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction vs Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Usual Care on Back Pain and Functional Limitations among Adults with Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial
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