Mindfulness in the Workplace -- Week 2

With the hectic pace of my first week back to work behind me, I’m beginning to reflect upon my own use of mindfulness within the workplace. Last week, I put forward the intentions of 1) reducing my negative thoughts towards everyday occurrences, and 2) avoiding the attachment of meaning to stressful events in my life. Thrown back into work without the luxury of prep time contributed to the amount of negative thoughts which I inevitably had surrounding work, but I’m conscious of the effort I have made to understand the underlying root of these feelings. As I watch my coworkers scramble to complete lesson plans, set up classrooms, and keep track of wandering students, I wonder about their own negative thoughts directed towards the work day. Are they aware of the dark cloud which seems to follow them around the school as they stomp towards the oh-so important coffee pot in the staff room? I posed this question to a few teachers, and many of their responses were the same: I don’t have time to think about it. This aspect of time is one which I myself have used to excuse my lack on mindfulness on a daily basis. It certainly takes more time to act in a calm, collected manner, in comparison to the primary reaction of negativity which seems to be the norm…right? On the surface, it may seem to be the correct answer, but I would argue that personal sanity is far more essential than saving a few seconds throughout the day. Lack of time throughout the day adds to the amount of stress and negativity which we all feel, so how can we slow down our pace and quiet those thoughts which contribute to our proverbial storm clouds?

My own storm clouds have reduced this week through the simple act of communication. I have become mindful of the way I interact with others, particularly when it comes to my body language and facial expressions (I have a notoriously expressive face…it has gotten me in trouble on numerous occasions!).  When I’ve noticed coworkers huffing over a misbehaving child or an over involved parent, my first question has been “what’s going on?” Such a simple questions, yet it has so many underlying meanings. By asking “what’s going on”, there is an aspect of care communicated, and an invitation to share thoughts and troubles. With each of these questions, I’ve received not only a waterfall of problems, but also the positive response of “thanks for asking”. These conversations inevitably have led to my own realization that I am not the only one having a hard time transitioning back into the workplace. The negative thoughts which I am having are shared with the majority of staff, prompting me to suggest that we made an effort to share our feelings with one another on a weekly basis. Whether it is a quick coffee or an extended lunch, the ability to share negative thoughts increases our awareness, and therefore mindfulness within situations which may seem rife with stress at the time. Encouraging these positive interactions has become my goal for the coming week, as well as continuing to reduce my own negative reactions to everyday occurrences. Check back in the coming weeks to continue this journey towards mindfulness with me!

by Annelie Nilsson, Graduate Intern