{"id":6605,"date":"2018-01-22T12:43:43","date_gmt":"2018-01-22T12:43:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/staging-mondaycomblog.kinsta.cloud\/?p=6605"},"modified":"2023-06-18T09:51:42","modified_gmt":"2023-06-18T09:51:42","slug":"mindfulness-at-work-5-ways-to-improve-your-productivity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/monday.com\/blog\/productivity\/mindfulness-at-work-5-ways-to-improve-your-productivity\/","title":{"rendered":"Mindfulness at work: 5 ways to improve your productivity"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mindfulness is all the rage these days. Rooted in ancient Buddhist tradition, it\u2019s now respected by the scientific community<\/a> as an effective way to fight anxiety, treat heart disease, lower blood pressure, reduce chronic pain, and improve sleep.<\/p>\n

And perhaps unsurprisingly, mindfulness at work is now a huge trend as well. Research shows that mindfulness at work can improve your focus<\/a>, attention, and ability to work under stress<\/a>\u2014all great assets in the workplace these days.<\/p>\n

What is mindfulness, exactly? Simply put, it\u2019s focusing your awareness on the present moment. Not thinking about the hectic morning you had, worrying about a presentation you have to give this afternoon, or planning what you\u2019ll cook for dinner tonight. Instead, it\u2019s paying attention to what you\u2019re feeling, thinking, and seeing right now<\/i>, without judgment. There\u2019s no \u201cright\u201d or \u201cwrong\u201d way to think or feel.<\/p>\n

While mindfulness is straightforward, it\u2019s far from easy. We listed five ways for you to practice mindfulness at work. Not only will it reduce your stress and make you happier; it\u2019ll also boost your productivity<\/a> and help you achieve more every day without working longer hours.<\/p>\n

Get started with monday.com<\/a><\/p>\n

1. Prioritize your tasks and projects for the next day<\/b><\/p>\n

The day has come to an end and you\u2019re about to go home. Before you do, take a few minutes to see what you\u2019ve managed to accomplish and what is left for tomorrow.<\/p>\n

Try to organize your to-dos by these three criteria: priority, focus level required, and how long each task will take. Many people are most productive first thing in the morning, so start your day with the most important and demanding tasks. (See: Eat that Frog<\/a>.) Then work on medium-priority assignments, and save your least demanding tasks for later in the day. That way, you can accomplish more each day and rest assured you\u2019ll always get the most important things done.<\/p>\n

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Get started<\/a><\/p>\n

2. Start your day with meditation<\/b><\/p>\n

Many times you arrive to work, but you aren’t really present. Traffic was terrible, you had an argument with your partner, your kid is sick, your banker has tried to call you three times, and your dog peed on the carpet just as you were walking out of the house. You\u2019re sitting down in front of your computer to start the day, but your thoughts are anywhere but here.<\/p>\n

Just 10 minutes of mindfulness meditation every morning can help you regain focus and calm. Make a playlist of a few quiet and relaxing songs, find a quiet room, sit down on a comfortable chair, close your eyes, breathe calmly, and relax. Try to observe your thoughts as they come and go without judging or resisting them, but simply being aware of them. After a few days of practicing you\u2019ll start to feel more focused and productive throughout the day.<\/p>\n

Need some meditation help? Try an app! Check out our recommendations in productivity apps<\/a> you need to get organized and be awesome.<\/p>\n

3. Focus on one task at a time<\/b><\/p>\n

Many people view the \u201cability to multitask\u201d<\/a> as a strength or even requirement in today\u2019s workplace. But the truth is that multitasking is a farce: people can\u2019t actually concentrate on multiple things at once. What you\u2019re actually doing is task switching:\u00a0<\/i>performing multiple tasks in rapid succession.<\/p>\n

It may seem efficient on the surface, but task switching is incredibly disruptive, time-consuming, and sloppy. Studies show<\/a> that task switching can cost as much as 40 percent of someone\u2019s productive time. Instead of juggling lots of things at once, try to work on one task at a time. Label just one action item as \u201cNow,\u201d and move to the next one only when you\u2019re finished.<\/p>\n

4. Create a distraction-free environment<\/b><\/p>\n