A lot has been written about the pace of modern life. How we all run round at a hundred miles per hour trying to get things done in the shortest time possible. We all have bills to pay - mortgages, child care, school fees, medical bills you name it! It’s all worry, it’s all go and its all stress. I am guilty of doing the same and its really hard not to get caught up in todays rushed lifestyle.
We wander around with our ears plugged into our mp3 players, worrying about the future and regretting the past, as the world around us passes us by. We try and do too many things at the same time e.g. talking on the phone while typing an email and munching down a sandwich! We feel overwhelmed by our days and burnt out!
Well here is a technique that I learnt that helped me slow down and wake me up to the world around me and its all about being fully conscious. There now follows my suggestion on how to be fully conscious through out a typical working day. As an experiment, try it for one day and note how you feel. I think you will notice you will feel more relaxed, less hurried and generally happier.
1) Upon waking.
You wake up and slowly swing your legs out of bed. As your feet touch the floor, note what this feels like. Stretch and feel the stretch in your body. What muscles are stretching? Where are the tensions in your body? Walk to the window and note the weather. If it is sunny and your bedroom faces the right way, feel the warm sunlight on your face. When you have your shower, feel the warm water fall onto your body. How does it feel? If you were to describe it in a novel, how would you describe the feeling of the water? When drying yourself, take one body part at a time slowly noting each one as you dry it. Next you will be having breakfast. Use the technique described in point five to fully enjoy your breakfast.
2) Your journey to work.
If you drive to work, imagine that you are demonstrating to someone how it is to drive perfectly. Drive without the radio on and be fully immersed in the activity of driving. If you are “stuck in traffic” note this and do some stretches in the car. Note the potential to be stressed out in this situation and note how futile it would be as it will not change anything. Do some deep breathing and relax. If you walk to work, take note of the environment around you. If you see any trees, what color are the leaves? If you see any flowers, how do they smell or how would you imagine they smell? If you are walking in the city, take note of all the different types of people around you. How do you think they are feeling? What stories do you think they have to tell? If you take public transport to work, note the sound of the bus or train. Are there any people chatting? What kind of people are on the bus or train? Who do you think they are?
3) Your day at work.
Spend your work day doing one thing at a time. If you have an email to write, just do that! If your phone rings and you feel you must answer it. Stop writing the email and give the phone call 100% of your attention. When someone talks to you, give them 100% of your attention. Listen carefully to what they are saying to you. If you are in a meeting, have your attention be 100% in that meeting. Pretend that you are going to be quizzed on the meeting afterwards and try and understand and comprehend as much as you can within the meeting. Try and do your work the best you can delivering the best work you have ever delivered.
4) Non – coffee, coffee breaks.
Instead of going to the office canteen to have a coffee, go for a walk around the block. Note your breathing and on every slow exhale imagine saying “Relax” yourself. Note the quality of the air. How does your breath feel on inhale as compared to your exhale? Feel the difference in temperature of your breath as you slowly inhale and exhale. Feel the pressure on the soles of your feet as they step on the pavement. Look around you and take in the environment, taking in as much detail as possible. Be fully aware of your surroundings.
5) Your meals.
Eat slowly, savoring every mouthful of the food. How does it taste? If you were writing a restaurant review, how would you describe the experience? What textures can you feel as eat? If someone is talking to you, stop and listen to what they are saying. How many times do you chew your food? Are you gulping it down? What sort of food are you eating? Do you feel it is healthy? How do you feel after you have finished your meal? How does it compare to when you ate something healthier or less healthy? How do you feel throughout the day and how does it relate to what you have eaten?
I am sure there are more ways to be fully conscious. What ways can you think of that will focus your attention, calm your mind and make you become more aware of the world you live in?
Good Luck!
Allen
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