Awesome Tips To Be More Zen At Work

Expert Sarah Stubbs offers some easy ways to fit mindfulness meditation into your nine-to-five routine

- Sarah Stubbs

What do Google, Goldman Sachs and Transport for London have in common? They all swear by mindfulness to enrich the working lives of their employees. And the good news is you too can bring a bit of mindfulness into your nine-to-five.

So what exactly does it entail? Well, here’s what it isn’t: it’s not about emptying your mind of thoughts and it’s not a simple relaxation technique. Mindfulness is about paying attention to the present moment in a non-judgmental way. You’re not trying to analyse or change anything; you’re trying to bring about greater self-awareness, to get familiar with the patterns of your thoughts and emotions.

What’s more, mindfulness can help tap into your creative potential. If we’re always thinking too far ahead, that can really limit our thinking. Whereas if we’re present, we’re more open to unforeseen possibilities and that can open up our thinking.

With this in mind, here is cognitive behavioural expert Sarah Stubbs’ pick of the best mindfulness exercises, whatever your job.

BEST FOR OFFICE WORKERS:

The breathing space meditation

What’s involved?

Choose any physical sense, whether it’s your breath or the office noises around you, to help anchor your mind to the present. Noticing the weight moving down through your body, the contact you’re making with the chair, the floor: what does that feel like? What are the sensory qualities involved? And then really paying attention to your breath: where is it in the body?

Where can I do it?