Geelong mindfulness skills at work

Mindfulness practice and training is about your life.  It isn’t just about the time you commit to meditating on a cushion or chair.  It is about learning to be awake for each moment of your life.  When you think of it that way, bringing your Geelong mindfulness training into the moments in your day is really a necessary requirement.

There is nothing ‘extra’ you need to add to your already busy schedule to bring your Geelong mindfulness training into everyday moments.  It isn’t just about stopping, it is about noticing what is here to be noticed when you stop; redirecting your attention when it takes off into the future to the past.  It allows you to perhaps find some spaciousness in the the day to make more conscious choices.

The Institute for Mindful Leadership gives us daily tips.  With each of these, practice noticing when your attention drifts and bring it back to where you actually are right now:

1. Choose to start your day rather than letting the day start you – begin each day by noticing the sensations of the breath for a few breaths before hopping out of bed.
2. Think about how you use the time between home and work.  Choose some days to drive to and from work without the radio on or using the phone.  When you arrive at work, notice your breath for a few moments.
3. Nourish yourself.  Mindfully each your lunch.  Take notice of the colours, the tastes, the smells of your meal.
4. When going to and from meetings, just walk!  No texting, phoning or emailing.  Feel the floor under your feet, the air on the skin, and greet your colleagues with a smile rather than bumping into them while texting!
5. Sit at your desk while your computer is turning on and notice the sensations in your body as you sit.

Try to do one of these each day and think about what you notice each time.