So I’m in the middle of a health kick and I’m running, I’m running a lot. Around three times a week; I ran a half marathon last week, I ran the Great North Run last month and will run in the Chester metric marathon later this month.
Mind
I prefer to run as a group than race on my own as I find it hard to motivate myself running on my own, although I enjoy the form of meditation I get from running and often use it to clear my head, as a kind of mindfulness practice.
Here’s a definition of mindfulness: “A mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one’s feelings, thoughts and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic technique.”
I use this as I calmly accept that as I run that it may be a struggle but also acknowledge my feelings and push on and see things through to the end. I use mindfulness to help me keep physically fit as well as mentally fit.
You can use mindfulness at work as well. I’m not saying everyone needs to rush out and convert that spare office into a meditation room. I’m talking about taking a minute to yourself (literally, a minute) to observe how you feel in the exact moment, rather than cruise your day on autopilot. To help you slow down and figure out your day ahead, or process the day gone by.
Close your eyes and observe your breath for a minute and I guarantee it will make you feel better about your work day
Mindfulness in business has probably been around since the late 1980s, but obviously meditation as a thing we all know has been around for thousands of years. People use it for spiritual meaning and others just use it to relax; I’m the latter.
Large employers like Glaxo Smith Clyne and obviously Google have practiced mindfulness at work for several years now and have seen the benefits of reduced absence and increased productivity in staff.
Although maybe previously a hobby for the “hippy” with their joss sticks looking to realign their chakras, and obvious links to Buddhism, meditation is now very much mainstream.
Here is a quick one minute meditation. Try it, I dare you….
1.Sit erect in a straight backed chair, if possible bring your back a little away from the rear of the chair so that your spine is self-supporting. Close your eyes.
2.Focus your attention on your breath, stay in touch with the sensations of in each in and out breath and the pause in-between breaths, there’s no need to alter your breathing in any way.
3. After a short while your mind will wander, when you notice just bring your attention back to your breath calmly breathing.
4. You may or may not get complete calmness, don’t worry if you don’t just let it happen.
5. After a minute open your eyes and take back in your surroundings.
Mindfulness definitely can work for some, in relaxing and grounding yourself, and switching on to the task in hand whatever it may be. Let me know how it went, adam.holden@growthlancashire.co.uk
Adam Holden is a business advisor for Growth Lancashire. He is passionate about politics and an activist by nature who likes to keep his nose into the news and discussing social issues which he blogs about. An advocate for all things Lancashire, Adam has worked in economic development for over a decade.
