Work and Mindfulness

Most people who work Monday to Friday have their weekends free to do other things and get a break from work. Last weekend, I worked a little bit on Sunday and tomorrow, I plan to do the same again. It made me start to think about work and mindfulness.

Most people have to work. Some people like their work and happily do it. Some people are content with their work, but rather have a dream job or a job that paid more. But, whatever the work that we currently have, we need to be content with it enough to do a good job and be mindful at the same time.Being mindful at work keeps me focused. Sometimes I am so consumed by my work that I lose track of time, or the opposite happens and time moves too slowly and I wait impatiently for 5 o’clock to come. Those moments are caused by living too much in the future, either wanting to get the work done or wishing it was over, rather than being “in the moment.”

Too many people work like this. Detached from the outside world, yet still very “connected”. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If permitted, a reminder for mindfulness can be placed at your workstation or desk. I keep a bamboo plant and Buddha statue at my desk, similar to the set-up in the photo above. (Photo credit: epSos.de)

My moments of mindfulness throughout the day come when I can look out the window at my desk. I am very fortunate to have my desk facing big windows, in a room shared by six other coworkers. After staring at a computer screen for most of the day, I enjoy to take a moment of mindfulness and look out the window. I see flocks of pigeons flying from building rooftop to rooftop, or over the church steeple to an apartment building. Seagulls fly by, and sometimes crows. It’s simple to watch these birds fly by, and is a reminder of a way of life outside a building divided by walls and doors, filled with cubicles, desks, chairs and computers. The birds have no concepts of “business”, “deadlines” and “client relations.” They are just birds. They do “bird things.” They fly, eat, sleep, and find company with other birds.

Bird – Seagull enjoying the sunset (Photo credit: blmiers2)

Finding moments to bring us back to the present moment in a world filled with expectations, due dates, requirements, conditions and rules helps to develop peace of mind. Wherever you work, find something to bring you back to the present moment. Whether it’s watching the customers at your restaurant eating and conversing, walking to the store or cafeteria to get your lunch, doing a task attentively, or taking a few moments to breathe while gazing out a window at work, we can all find moments to bring mindfulness into our daily work routine. Doing so may just create a happier mind that can take on whatever challenges may come up.

Mindfulness – A Break from “Mindless” Routine (Photo credit: RelaxingMusic)