Mindfulness Cuts Stress, Boosts Productivity

The desire to produce better outcomes and increase profits has led to a decrease in the use of thoughtful processes and procedures for making skillful decisions. Right now I bet you have a computer, smartphone, and iPad within arm's reach. Most people do. And, the misperception that you must multitask to work efficiently results in less productivity instead of more. Partial attention to many things at once results in mistakes, in- efficiencies, and breakdowns in communication. Mindfulness is moment-to-moment awareness without judgment. The three characteristics of mindfulness are intention, attention, and attitude. You can practice mindfulness in two ways -- formally through meditative practices and informally by bringing your full attention to the ordinary activities of your day. Some simple and effective ways to increase your mindfulness during the workday are presented. They are: 1. Be aware. 2. Take five. 3. Do one thing. 4. Time-outs. 5. Eat somewhere else.