Being in the Moment
Being in the Moment
We've all heard it before: "Be present." "Live in the moment." "Practice mindfulness." It sounds great in theory, doesn't it? But in our busy lives at Nash Squared, being truly present can feel about as achievable as that other desirable, but so hard to grasp, aim – an empty inbox and the quietening of the many social feeds vying for our attention.
I'll be the first to admit that I sometimes struggle with this.
Like us all, I have so many competing priorities, and a To Do list that never seems to get shorter. Your mind is drawn to them, even if it should be focused on the task in hand. I often mention to colleagues that it seems we need to ‘battle the crocodiles closest to the boat if we are not to be tipped in to the water, and then its game over’.
Do you recognise any of these?
A quick query ChatGPT reveals some of the more common scenarios where being in the moment can reap good results:
1. During meetings: How many times have you zoned out, only to snap back to attention when someone asks your opinion? Being fully present means you're not just hearing, but actively listening and contributing.
2. While working on complex tasks: When you're juggling multiple projects, it's tempting to multitask, or simply focus on the easier items in your To Do list. But giving your full attention to one task at a time often leads to better quality work and fewer mistakes.
3. In conversations with colleagues: Whether it's a casual chat or a performance review, being present fosters better connections and clearer communication.
4. Setting out on a task you are fearful of doing: Maybe it’s a difficult conversation to have, a call you need to make with a customer. The tendency is for your mind to jump to elsewhere, to easier, more pleasant things.
5. Worrying about things you did or said in the past: It’s natural to sometimes wonder if what you did yesterday was the right thing. But the most important thing is to focus on doing the right thing today. Being present focuses on the here and now.
Time for the present
But how do we actually do it? Here are a few techniques that have worked for me:
1. The "Three Breath Break": Before starting a new task or entering a meeting, take three deep breaths. It sounds simple, but it's a quick way to reset and focus.
2. The "Noticing Game": Pick one sense and focus on it for a minute. What do you hear right now? What can you feel? It pulls you back to the present moment.
3. The "One Tab Challenge": Close all those extra browser tabs and focus on one task at a time. It's amazing how much this can reduce mental clutter.
4. The "Mindful Minute": Set a timer for one minute and focus solely on your breathing. Do this a few times throughout the day to recenter yourself.
5. The “Pomodoro Technique”: Creating 25 minute blocks for your work to concentrate on a single task. It’s short enough to get something done, but not so long to get distracted. More here.
In a world of constant notifications and never-ending to-do lists, being present is tough. There are days when I feel like I'm failing miserably at it. But I've found that even small moments of presence can make a big difference.
It's not about achieving some zen-like state of permanent mindfulness. It's about creating pockets of focus and awareness throughout your day. Those moments add up, leading to clearer thinking, better decision-making, and yeah, maybe even a bit more job satisfaction.
So, next time you find your mind wandering off to tomorrow's problems or yesterday's mishaps, try to gently bring it back to the here and now. Your work (and your stress levels) will thank you for it.