How to Put Yourself First at Work
by Elana Konstant,
When you’re at work and answering to others, often it’s hard to find the time to go to the bathroom let alone care for your overall wellness. We are so focused on getting things done that there is not much opportunity to be present in the moment. Given that people in the U.S. spend, on average, 30 percent of their lives working, it’s imperative that you find a few minutes a day to focus on your own well being, mind and body. Studies show, the happier you are, the more productive you are.
Here are four basic steps to incorporate into your day to make sure you are putting yourself first even at work.
It sounds so simple, right? Everyone knows how to breathe. You’re doing it right now so you’re clearly pretty good at it. But, the real benefits come when you stop to focus solely on your breath or a simple mantra and everything else starts to melt away. Setting aside time for meditation every day is one of the most effective ways of calming your mind and increasing your effectiveness. Meditation helps to center your thoughts and focus your energy. Some great apps to help bring meditation seamlessly into your life are Buddhify, Mindfulness App, and Take A Break. Tune out and turn in.
For many people, trying to fit a 90-minute yoga class into an already busy schedule is likely to create more stress than it relieves. Working the healing practice around your daily life even on an abridged basis will still provide the energizing and tension releasing effects. Yoga’s meditations, postures and breathing techniques can be transformative for even the most inflexible bodies (or minds). Perhaps you can convince your office to subsidize a weekly lunch-hour class, or squeeze in a shortened class at home before or after work. And, if you can’t seem to find the time outside of the office, then find your inner yogi in the office. Read more…