Here are my 6 top tips to help you get the balance right when you are working online.
1. Stay In Breath
Next time you are working online take a moment to pause and notice how quickly you’re breathing – or if you are holding your breath – next time you check your email or use social media. it is easy to get out of sync with your breath when we are on auto-pilot or dealing with stressful things online, even when sitting down. Notice whether checking makes you feel stressed. Be mindful of your breath when you check in with your email. Resist the urge to ‘just check Facebook, Twitter or emails’, by checking your breath instead. Here is a short video exercise about staying in breath.
2. Focus on Now
Pay full attention to each online task you do – writing emails, messaging, surfing, or checking Facebook or Twitter – practise focusing on doing just one thing at once. Only move on to the next task once you’ve finished the previous one. Resist the urge to get distracted. This has multiple benefits. Firstly, being present to each task helps to stop you from feeling overwhelmed. You only have to think about one thing (not the seven things you were trying to do at once). Secondly, you’ll be far, far more productive and Thirdly you will learn to stop using distractions to pull your attention away from those jobs you don’t like doing, but need to be done.
3. Invest Attention
Be aware of who and what is trying to grab your attention online. Paying attention is good, but investing your attention has added benefits. Choose how you use your attention. Attention is a hugely valuable resource and often we forget this. It is easy to give away pieces of your attention all day long – to websites you end up on, to social media streams that don’t even interest you, to consuming content that you don’t find meaningful or useful. Think of your attention like money. Don’t waste it or let others steal it. Invest it in what is important for you. Be selective. If you want to learn more about developing your attention using MINDSIGHT visit this link
4. Let It Go.
It is so easy to get engrossed online that we lose track of time, other priorities and other people who need our attention. It can feel stressful and leave us agitated when we cant finish what we’ve started. Accept that you can never ‘finish everything’ you are working on the Internet, social media or email. Decide when you have done enough for today, and know it will be there tomorrow for you to pick up once again. Learning to let go is liberating and healthy for us.
5. Use Compassion.
Think of others when you email, message and text. Unlike letters and conversations our emails, messages and texts can distort or hide the true meaning behind them. Use compassion as your default setting whenever you post a message or email online. If there is a chance your intention can be be misunderstood. Call the person or speak to them directly. Limit the number of emails and messages you send. Think of the volume of information you’re adding to online. It has been estimated that we send 294 billion messages per day, more than 2.8 million emails every second and roughly 90 trillion emails per year. So next time you feel the urge to respond to a thread on Facebook or send a message/email ask yourself “do you really need to send this?” Another good habit to get into is to pause before you press send. A more considered response is usually better than a snap reaction.
6. Use Online to Go Offline!
Join an active online community that also encourages like-minded members to meet offline. Sites like Meetup where neighbours are encouraged to get together and learn something, do something or share something are becoming more popular. I set up Cotswold Natural Mindfulness and Life Guiding UK using a strong online presence balanced with an active offline community of walkers.
I challenge you to put these Mindful practises into action whenever you can and remember…
…enjoy the journey!
Ian Banyard – Author & Guide
Ian Banyard is a Nature Connection Guide and author of Natural Mindfulness – your personal guide to the healing power of nature connection. He is passionate about exploring nature and empowering people. Ian combines a wealth of knowledge and experience from his personal and corporate life with intuitive and instinctive insights from his own inner journey, to guide others.
Ian lives in Gloucestershire, UK where he guides Natural Mindfulness Walks and provides coaching, courses, gatherings and retreats, for others who want to deepen their connection with nature and their true nature.
To attend a Natural Mindfulness Walk or event, visit Natural Mindfulness Walks
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