The routines we’ve developed to contend with our modern multitasking lifestyles don’t tend to allow much room for relaxation. That’s a pity. Because not having relaxation built into our routines isn’t just harmful to our psychological well-being; it actually decreases our productivity at home and at work. Multitasking was hyped as the new efficient way to work but it has actually proven less efficient. Engaging in multiple ongoing tasks leads to less focus on each task. That leads to a drop in efficiency and quality in our work as a whole, and production suffers. Integrating relaxation and meditation time into our daily routines can help increase productivity.

Relaxing improves focus. Taking a half hour at the start of your day for relaxing seems could seem counterintuitive. But instead of charging into work and blundering into your tasks like a whirlwind of misdirected energy, try taking a different tactic, even if it means coming into the office a bit earlier. Sit down and close your eyes and don’t think about work at all initially. Meditate if you like. Don’t get lethargic, but allow yourself to relax completely.

Once you’ve achieved that, direct your thoughts to the tasks you need to accomplish in the day ahead. Allow yourself to begin prioritizing the tasks mentally. What is most important? What task needs to be executed on first to set up the next one? A logical progression will begin to follow and priorities will begin to crystallize in your mind. At this point, while still relaxed, take out a pen and paper and begin to write down the day’s priorities in a list. When you’ve done this, you’re ready to start your day. There is no reason to be anxious during the day because you’ve got your list of tasks identified and you can begin to complete each one in order while remaining calm, focused and efficient.

This process can work just as efficiently for your personal life as it does at work. Worrying about things that need done seldom results in accomplishing concrete goals. Not accomplishing goals results in anxiety. You may find it helpful to set aside time every day for meditating. Just as you do at work, while meditating at home, begin to identify the areas in your life that are causing you anxiety. Once you’ve identified personal priorities think about the best way to execute an action plan for each one.

Education, career and relationship issues are often areas that people fret about without having an action plan to resolve them. If education is high on this list for you, think about your options. For folks who never finished college, or who want to return to university for continuing education for a master’s degree, getting an online degree may be a great action plan.

Career issues need to be identified. Make a list of three actionable items that you can easily incorporate into a workplace strategy. If career advancement is what you’re preoccupied with; execute your identified goals to help get you there and quit stressing about it. Relationship issues can be handled the same way. Identify the problems you may be encountering in your relationship and come up with three concrete actions you can take to positively impact your relationship.

Meditating and relaxing can be vehicles to increase calmness and tranquillity in your life in two different ways. The most obvious of course is that the mere process of meditating results in calmness. The second, less obvious way that meditation can increase your quality of life is that by using it as a tool to identify causes of worry, you can set about removing the worry by taking effective action.

- Article by Whitney Jones.

Comments are closed.