Mindfulness and Productivity
Our modern world is full of more anxiety triggers than ever before. Constant notifications around the clock alert us to every piece of bad news; social media pressure can make us feel guilty for what we have achieved, and ashamed for what we haven’t.
Today, everything is accessible in our palm and it can feel impossible to switch off. When we were already worried about global climate change statistics or how we fall short of the lifestyles sold to us on social media - 2020 brought us a whole new set of challenges.
Whilst modern technology has allowed families and friends to stay connected during the Covid-19 pandemic (which we’re all grateful for, even if the weekly family Zoom quiz started to get a bit tedious!) they’ve done little to alleviate the anxiety which has been understandably troubling everyone during this time.
If it’s not worry about your own personal safety, and that of vulnerable family members, it’s the future of your business and employees. With many people being made redundant during the pandemic, and certain industries almost collapsing under the restrictive safety measures placed upon them, our trepidation about the future of the economy has never been more pressing. The short- and long-term impacts of Covid-19 on business are yet to be revealed, significantly hindered by our inability to predict when normality will return.
Practicing mindfulness during this time is essential. Not just for your mental health - as restrictions are slowly lifting and more industries are returning to work, practicing mindfulness will aid productivity.
Understandably, for those who still have the opportunity to work during the pandemic, output has been low. Even when there’s plenty to do, productivity can seem impossible when the world is tackling an unprecedentedly tragic situation.
There’s plenty of ways to practice mindfulness. Finding what suits you best is a matter of trial and error. Mindfulness and sleep assistance apps will allow you to turn your technology into a relaxing influence instead of a stress-inducing one. Stepping away from tech altogether can also be helpful: ensuring you take breaks, go for a walk or a run, can clear your mind and help you generate new ideas.
Sometimes, switching off your phone for a day and focusing on something else – a creative pastime or simply some housework – can be extremely effective, if you have the opportunity to do so.
It can be tempting when working from home to plough through every task without taking a break. But your rests are just as intrinsic to your productivity as your working hours.
Once you’ve found what mindfulness techniques work for you, you will gradually see an increase in your efficiency. But it’s especially important during these times not to compare levels of productivity (especially those espoused on social media, which can be deceiving) – your business, after all cannot function without you. Everyone is facing different challenges during these times, each business has adapted and adjusted individually.
In the mean time, there’s plenty we can do to remain connected with your customers online. Remain an accessible presence, keep a dialogue open, and when your business returns so will your clients.
Emily
Founder @ Evolve Chelsea