“Mindfulness means paying attention
In a particular way;
On purpose,
In the present moment,
And non-judgementally”
Jon Kabat-Zinn
There is no one definition of what mindfulness is but I prefer this one from Jon Kabat-Zinn.
If you have never heard of him I recommend you look him up.
Put simply mindfulness helps you tune into yourself, catch ourselves in the moment and perhaps change how we handle a situation next time, perhaps be less reactive. Not so much on automatic pilot, non- judgemental and more understanding.
Mindfulness increases our awareness of how we feel, think and act by focusing our attention on what we are doing right now. This leaves little room for worry about the past or the future or getting caught up in our own thoughts.
Let’s put that into a work situation, nursing because it is what I know. A co-worker is late to work, this co-worker is often late to work, meaning other people often have to get the theatre prepared so the list can start on time and patients are not delayed. You can spend the whole day being frustrated by this, as you always at work early, you can join the gossip when other staff members discuss it. Trust me this will ruin your day! Or you can run an IV for her, check her machine and leave it at that. And don’t anticipate her lateness tomorrow. Instead of replaying past negative thoughts, mindfulness forces you to shift your thoughts back to the present!
Nurses are using Mindfulness to offset the daily pressures of our jobs, this works for any role though. Mindfulness helps you to focus on the present moment, this can assist you to cope more effectively with stress and reduce the risk of professional burnout. Mindfulness also helps with our communication with others by bringing greater awareness of how and what others are communicating. You might notice the tone you are using and how that may inflame a situation. You might notice that you’re not really listening to the other persons as your thinking too much about what you’re going to say in response. Listening and speaking with greater attention can lead to much better communication, particularly in challenging conversations. You might learn to be simpler and more direct so that people really listen to you. Being more mindful and more receptive to others will deepen your understanding of your relationships with your colleagues, family and ultimately yourself.
How can you live more Mindfully today?
If you would like to learn more about Mindfulness have a look at our Workshop & Retreat options.
