A cup of coffee, breakfast and the newspaper: that is my ideal start to a working day. As you know, reality is often less gentle. There is the morning traffic, an inbox to check and deadlines to review while travelling, a last-minute fuel stop and the realisation that you may not make your evening appointment.
I love my job in PR, but I would be lying if I said I never felt stressed. According to a Securex study, stress affects 64 per cent of Belgian employees. I do not know how the untroubled 36 per cent manage it, but one of my ingredients is a regular helping of mindfulness: a valuable way to quieten my mind.
Mindful what? Mindfulness means seeing reality as it is. No incense, Buddha statues or lotus position required. It involves developing the ability to approach whatever arises, pleasant experiences as well as difficult or painful ones, with greater calm, clarity and kindness, without becoming lost in it.
For example, you can drink a cup of coffee attentively, noticing the warmth of the cup, its aroma and its taste. That is mindful coffee drinking. Brain-scan research has explored the technique’s benefits. Belgian psychologist Björn Prins asks, “Have you brushed your mind today?” In his view, meditation or mindfulness should be like brushing your teeth: a regular part of the day.
Intrigued by this approach, I discovered Andy Puddicombe’s Headspace app. Could an app teach me, in ten days, to deal with stress, reduce late-night worrying and improve my focus? My response was: bring it on!
I am a beginner, but I have to admit that it feels good. You find a quiet place, play a session and simply listen. Some people may think it is nonsense, but for me it has become part of my morning or evening routine. When I am not too busy, that is!
It has also strengthened my fascination with apps. An ingenious piece of technology that makes life more pleasant speaks directly to my enthusiasm for tech.
Workplace stress should not be underestimated. Yet the ingredients that make PR stressful are also what make the job fascinating to me: its energy, unpredictability and variety. I often have an incredibly busy day and still arrive home full of energy. The trick is to find your own balance.
In Andy Puddicombe’s words: “Be kind to your mind!”
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