Hit the Pause Button

From the desk of Victoria…

Think back a year ago to date. How has your life changed? Responses may vary, but I am pretty sure no one will say their lives – or the “world” – are the same. One thing I have learned from this year is that change is inevitable.

In some cases, change may bring about feelings of anxiety, stress, and fear with the thought of uncertainty. I know educators may feel some of these emotions with the possibilities of day-to-day changes and unknowns.

Students are also facing these challenges and feelings of stress, which impact their ability to learn and connect with other students. With that said, research shows that student stress levels are impacted by teacher stress levels. To alleviate this stress for all stakeholders, it is vital that educators and leaders practice self-care during these different times.

Practicing mindfulness is one form of self-care. More and more people are turning to mindfulness as a way to alleviate stress and increase their quality of life.

What is mindfulness?

It is the art of being fully present in each moment. In simple terms, it is paying attention to each moment, without distractions.

How do you practice mindfulness?

With everything you do, slow down. I know it may be easier said than done, right? We all have places to be and things to do. However, if we do not slow down, our entire lives will pass us by.

Knowing that, I have learned to use this as a daily reminder. Whether you are in school or at home, you must remind yourself to hit the pause button.

Here are a few ideas to accomplish that:

• Check in with yourself on how your body and mind feel throughout the day – see if there are any areas where you can release tension. Do this at the beginning of your day, before you eat lunch, and at the end of the day.
• Spend a few minutes in nature, noticing what you hear and smell. Leave your cellphone in the house or in the car and fully take in the fresh air. You will leave that experience feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.
• Create mindful rituals that you look forward to every day: working out, making breakfast, drinking coffee while your favorite music is playing in the background, reading a chapter of a book, or taking a moment to stretch. Fully show up in the moment.  
• Create new patterns. You could try a series of “If this, then that” messages to create easy reminders to shift into a slow brain. For instance, you might come up with, “If you reach your office door, then take a deep breath,” as a way to shift into mindfulness as you are about to start your workday. Or, “If the phone rings, take a breath before answering.” Each intentional action to shift into mindfulness will strengthen your slow brain.

These are a few tips to try. I know how this practice has worked wonders for me.

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Victoria Brownlee has been part of the ERG team since 2011. She recently launched her mindful coaching business, Creating From Within. Creating From Within provides the space for you to search yourself and find tools within to transform your life through mindfulness and personal development practices. Each experience is designed to fit the needs of the individual or group.