Breathe and Meditate
Sometimes the
inability to think clearly is just a lack of oxygen. Breathing is an
unconscious bodily function, but due to stress, people don’t always breathe
correctly or in the best way to deliver enough oxygen to the mind to keep it
alert without intrusive thoughts. Meditation typically is breath-focused, but
you can sit with good posture in your chair, close your eyes, breathe in
through your nose, slowly on a count of four, hold your breath for another four
counts, and then realize through your mouth on a four-count – slowly and
mindfully.
Stretch and Move
If you’ve been
hunched over your desk pounding your keyboard, you’re probably restricting your
muscles from getting enough oxygen. The best thing to do is try to get up at
least every 90 minutes to move. Just stand up, stretch, breathe in, and then
out and sit down. But if you have time, it’s better to go for a fast ten-minute
walk before coming back to work with focus.
Create a Checklist
If you can’t figure
out where to start on a project and your brain feels like someone else oversees
the channel changer, stop what you’re doing and plan. Create a logical
checklist of tasks in the order necessary to get the job done.
Enjoy a Glass of Water and a Healthy Snack
If your blood sugar
is low and you’re dehydrated, it can cause you to have racing thoughts. Your
body is built to survive, and if you’re not doing right by it, it’s going to
interfere with what you want to do to alert you to trouble. If you’ve not eaten
correctly, grab an apple or an orange, some string cheese, and a big glass of
water. Do not multitask. Take a break to enjoy them.
Go or Look Outdoors
Going outside in
nature for a couple of minutes, even if all you have time to do is walk around
the building or check the mail, will give you a new perspective and help your
brain reset. If going outside isn’t possible and you have a window, gaze out at
whatever nature you can see, even if it’s just the sky.
Trying one of these
ideas will not take more than 20 minutes from your day. Everyone deserves and
needs to take breaks during the day. In fact, the best way to keep your mind in
the right zone when at work is to remember how the brain functions and give it
a break at least every 90 minutes, even if all you have time to do is stand up,
stretch, breathe in and out deeply, and sit back down it will help.
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