Write an article based on this "Sit still and focus on your breath. Practice savoring with all 5 senses. Make each activity the star. Name your thoughts and feelings. Turn off your phone for a few hours each day. See the value in your daily work."
Spend a few minutes each day just "being." Find a comfortable place to sit and check in with your breath. Breathe deeply through your nose for about 3 seconds. Hold the breath for 2 seconds. Then, exhale for about 4 seconds. If you lose count or find your mind wandering, just return your focus to your breath. After you've practiced mindful breathing a few times, you can use it to bring yourself back to the present if you ever experience stress or anxiety. Use your senses to fully take in the environment around you. One at a time, bring awareness to what you see, hear, smell, touch, and taste. For example, if you're outside, you might see a gorgeous blue sky above you and towering trees. You might hear cars passing by or children playing. You might smell freshly mown grass or the scent of food cooking in a nearby restaurant. Your mouth might taste the spearmint flavor of your chewing gum. As you get used to savoring, spend time bringing awareness to the different sensations you experience on a daily basis, such as eating mindfully or listening to classical music. Ever complete an activity without having any real memory of doing so? Cut down on that by focusing on one task at a time. Start single-tasking the different activities you complete each day to be more present. Instead of washing the dishes while cooking dinner, for example, focus totally on cooking dinner. Notice the smells of garlic and onion, hear the clinking sound of the stirring spoon against the pot, see the steam rising from the pan. Then, once you have completed that task, focus totally on every aspect of washing the dishes. Rather than getting lost in a rush of emotion and not knowing why, start putting your thoughts and feeling into words. This may help you get perspective on the feelings and even help ease negative ones. Let's say you have a sudden craving for junk food. You might backtrack and question, "What am I thinking and feeling?" You might be thinking, "I have no friends" and feeling lonely, which prompts you to reach for something comforting. However, if you become present and name the feeling, you can give yourself what you really need, such as a hug from a friend or playtime with your dog. Technology often interferes with your ability to live in the present, so commit to unplugging for a little while. Power off your phone or put it on silent and engage in constructive activities, like spending time with family or writing in your journal. If a few hours each day seems too difficult, start with one hour at the end of your day before bed. Then, gradually increase the time so that you have more of your evening free for the here-and-now. When you don't value the work you do, it's easy to stay distracted or contemplate other things (like hitting the time clock). By doing work that you find meaningful, you can remain present and feel more fulfilled overall. To get back in touch with the value of your work, revisit who your work impacts, such as how it changes customers lives. Make a list of the positive contributions your work makes to society. If you have trouble finding any value in your daily work, talk to your human resources representative to explore different ways you can become more engaged with your work. Or, see a career counselor who can help you find a profession that uses your skills more meaningfully.