When you’re in meetings, it’s important to be mindful of how you conduct yourself. This can be done by setting intentions for yourself and your team, and focusing on what’s important at the moment.
Mindfulness can be a great way to engage people in a meeting. It can also help you be more productive and focused.
1. Set Your Intentions
Intentions are powerful tools that allow us to live in harmony with our purpose and receive inspiration, motivation, and clarity to pursue it.
To set your intentions, first think about what you really value. What makes you happy, nourishes you, and gives your life meaning?
Then begin to imagine how you’d like to show up during the next few hours. Distill your intention into one clear statement while taking a few breaths, and repeat that sentence to yourself frequently as you navigate the rest of your day.
2. Be Present
One of the most important things you can do when you’re meeting mindful is to be present. That means focusing on the present moment, paying attention to your body, and not allowing your mind to be distracted by other thoughts or emotions.
Take your daily commute as an opportunity to practice this skill. After getting into your car, take a minute or two to sit in a mindful way, becoming aware of the breath and your physical sensations (hands on steering wheel, seatbelt against shoulder, foot on pedal).
3. Be Mindful of Your Opinions
Being mindful of your opinions is a crucial element of meeting mindful. If you are able to express your thoughts with grace and a calm demeanor, then you will be able to engage in a more thoughtful conversation with your team.
Taking notes is also an important part of any successful meeting. Whether you are assigning a note taker or simply using sticky notes to record your own notes, this will help keep everyone on the same page throughout the meeting.
4. Be Mindful of Your Body
Mindfulness isn’t just about sitting in a quiet place and being aware of your thoughts, but also about noticing sensations in your body. One meditation exercise called body scan helps you focus on your physical feelings in a moment-to-moment way.
Sit up in a comfortable position and focus on each part of your body, from your feet to your head. Observe any thoughts or feelings associated with each part and then let them go.
5. Be Mindful of Your Mind
Mindfulness has been shown to have positive effects on people with anxiety and stress. It can help reduce negative thinking, and may even increase a person’s willingness to make healthier food choices.
One way to get started with mindfulness is to try a short meditation or body scan exercise. Begin by taking several deep breaths and notice your feet, then move up each part of your body: legs, stomach, arms, hands, and head.
6. Be Mindful of Your Emotions
If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed by emotions, mindfulness is a great way to calm down. It teaches you to be compassionate with yourself and not judge or suppress the emotions you are experiencing.
Mindfulness can also be beneficial to those who have had traumas, like PTSD or abuse. It helps them to manage their painful feelings, which is something that can be difficult for people who have suffered from these things.
7. Be Mindful of Your Environment
When you’re caught up in a rushed schedule or multitasking, you can quickly lose your awareness. When this happens, it’s important to slow down and be mindful of your environment.
Mindfulness can strengthen your motivation to act in a pro-environmental way by broadening your awareness and building eudaimonic meaning. This process can lead to changes in your everyday behaviors and actions, such as bringing reusable bags to the grocery store, taking shorter showers or refilling your personal water bottle instead of using disposable bottles.
8. Be Mindful of Your Actions
One of the best ways to practice mindfulness is by taking your everyday actions and being aware of them. For example, when you wash dishes or vacuum the house, be mindful of the physical sensations of the water, the vibrations of the machine and the way that it feels on your hands.
This can help you to develop mindful habits and a more conscious approach to your work life. By being mindful of your actions, you can reduce stress and anxiety, boost productivity and improve creativity.
