How To Use Your Awareness To Keep You From Crashing

Published August 21st, 2007 by Adam Kayce | 18 Comments

Heading for a crash?Ever watch yourself at work? Probably not as much as you’d think — most of the time, your focus is on the task at hand. You’re focused on the job you’re doing, the call you’re making, the report you’re writing, or the nail you’re hammering.

It takes a shift in focus to be aware of what’s happening in you as you do that job, make that call, write that report, or hammer that nail.

When you make that shift, however, a world of possibilities opens up to you. Because when you’re aware of your modus operandi — the how you do the what — then you can be much more conscious of the patterns that are present in you as you work, so you can eliminate the ones slowing you down, and strengthen the ones that are creating your best results.

Let’s take a look at an example:

Let’s say you are at your computer, writing. It could be a blog post, an article you’re working on, a client report, anything. At first, your focus is on what you’re saying, the words you’re using, the data you’re weaving into the piece. But then, as you keep writing, you start becoming aware of the fact that your breathing is shallow.

How long has it been this way? Who knows. You’re just becoming aware of it in this moment. So, you sit up straighter and take a deep breath… and right away, you notice that you feel more relaxed about the project. The furrow leaves your brow, your hands relax, and your outlook becomes brighter.

All that from a deep breath? Sure — because not only are you pulling more oxygen into your system, but your lungs are also the system in your body related to mercy. Instead of feeling so pressured to write, to perform, to produce… now, you’re more connected to the underlying mercy that’s available to you, and so your burden seems lifted a bit. You’ve got a little perspective back, and it feels good.

But, you wouldn’t have had this experience if you hadn’t been aware of the signals your body was giving you while you worked. And your awareness wouldn’t have picked up that cue unless you took into account the fact that you are always present, no matter what you’re doing.

Talking about it like this sounds strange, I know. Of course, “wherever you go, there you are.” But really, how often do you slip into a mode of working that neglects the inner goings-on that have the potential to make your work that much easier?

So, in case this idea hasn’t already kicked off a flurry of ideas in your mind for how you can start taking better care of yourself at work, and make your best work possible:

Take awareness breaks.

Set up an automatic system for yourself, to remind you to check in with your body, your thoughts, etc. (you can set an alarm on your computer to go off a few times a day, or wear a wristband (your attention will be drawn to it from time to time), or use some kind of attention-getting device that becomes your cue to check in with yourself).

Use those moments to cultivate a better awareness of what you’re bringing to your work, in the way of self-talk, body postures, or emotional states. Truth is, they’re all linked, so it doesn’t really matter which signals you’re paying attention to — as long as you’re paying attention.

Then, use your awareness of what’s going on in the moment to self-correct. If you’re on a course that’s taking you towards a crash, and away from your potential, then shift what you need to shift to get back on track towards working at your best.

(Need more help? Try this.)

Image by debaird on Flickr, via Creative Commons license.

And thanks to all those who commented on the previous post: Weblog Qjm.be, Shmuel Gershon, Jean Browman, Rosa Say, Karen Lynch, Edward Mills, Bruce Ramsey, Auto Parts for Brains, Michelle Van, Riyueyi, Carol Webb, Joanna Young, Joseph Down, Rhett, circulating, jdr, Gailtrail, JoLynn Braley, Tshombe, dailytri, Shawn, Henri van den Hoof

18 Comments... Want To Jump In?

  • Jean Browman
    August 21, 2007, 2:05 pm

    Great lesson in the joys of procrastinating. I’ve been puttering around, thinking of next Sunday’s post at Stress To Power. It’s entitled Stepping Out of Our Trances, so this post ties right in. I’ll definitely link to it. Thanks!

  • Joann Loos
    August 21, 2007, 2:11 pm

    I took a class with a zen monk who recommended that
    everytime the phone rang at work, you notice the
    feeling of your bottom in your chair. To get you back into the now.

  • Adam Kayce
    August 21, 2007, 4:26 pm

    Jean, the design in front of your name is the favicon of your site, if you have one. You do, and it’s the HM of HostMonster, your webhost (and mine).

    Joann, that’s a great example of an awareness break — it reminds me of a CPR class I took once, and the instructor said, “Every time you hear a siren, no matter where you are, think ABC : Airway, Breathing, Circulation (the three primary things you check if someone’s unconscious). That was over 15 years ago, and I still do it.

  • MichelleVan
    August 21, 2007, 5:27 pm

    Breathing, that’s the key to everything I think. My 3 year old daughter and I often breath together just to enjoy the moment together…

  • MichelleVan
    August 21, 2007, 5:29 pm

    Humm, curious, my favicon doesn’t show up…?

    (Ed’s note: it does when you enter a URL with your comment — I saw that yours did on an earlier post, so I’ll try adding it in here, as well, and see if it pops up after the fact…)

  • Auto Parts for Brains
    August 22, 2007, 2:41 am

    Nice post man. I totally agree with you. Usually, I allow myself very little of this self awareness exercise and I find that that is just pushing me to a burn out.

    Right now, commenting on this article is on my self awareness period. Thanks for making it a nice educational one.

  • Auto Parts for Brains
    August 22, 2007, 2:46 am

    Adam,

    My boss has always been warning me of a burn out if I did not stop my pace of work. I am one of those freaks who has to feel the load to feel fulfilled at work. This article is a life saver. I have found that those little moments of being aware of oneself really is helpful to keep focus on whatever it is one is currently working on.

    Right now, I am spending my awareness moment on your blog. Is there any better way to use it. :) Thanks man. Cool helpful post.

  • Jean Browman--Cheerful Monk
    August 23, 2007, 2:34 pm

    Have you seen Tony D. Clark’s latest post? (http://successfromthenest.com/content/eternal-playlist-of-the-successful-mind/#more-214)
    It’s about taking time to relive past successes to revitalize ourselves. It ties right in with your awareness breaks. As you know, I think the easiest way to keep ourselves working is to love what we’re doing. For me reconnecting with my enthusiasm is the best way to overcome procrastination.

    I’m a certified practitioner of NLP (neurolinguistic programming), and Tony’s post is the most down-to-earth and powerful description of some of those techniques I have ever read.

  • Joe Jutrisa
    August 24, 2007, 5:49 pm

    Thanks Adam, excellent article!

    We have to keep checking in to see what is REALLY happening. Sometimes we get so robotic and lose touch and sometimes we just drift off elsewhere when we should be here.

    This technique has helped me re-adjust, relax and take a breath. On the flipside it’s probably saved my life or prevented serious injury on many an occasion when I’ve been using dangerous equipment or driving, and I should have been here but I was there.

    Many accidents, much stress and unhappiness, and even death can be prevented by checking in with ourselves and cultivating our awareness.

    This simple technique can be life changing. Thanks for sharing it, Adam.

  • Anne Kaplan
    August 25, 2007, 7:39 am

    Mindful Clock is a lovely free little computer app, courtesy of the Washington Mindfulness Community, which sounds a zen-bowl-like chime on the hour, quarter-hour, or whenever you set it to. Perfect for awareness breaks!

    • WaterLearner
      August 26, 2007, 9:56 pm

      Hi!

      A great post to remind us to breathe along with our daily tasks on hand. I can relate to the fact that I often forget to breathe as I get more “into” the task I am rushing to complete. Blessings!

    • Judy Murdoch | Highly Contagious Marketing
      August 27, 2007, 9:45 am

      Your post got me musing (does that mean it was a-musing?) about what helps me work in a way that is productive and satisfying.

      In the last year or so I’ve noticed that on good days I work in a state of flow. I’m calm and focused on what I’m doing and the work feels very natural. The main distinction between this and the state I usually work in is a lack of what I can only describe as “watching behind my back.” Not literally but a sense of hyper vigilance as if I’m going to miss out on something.

      I don’t have many words to describe this sense other than it feels good and I like to work this way. Feels almost like a way of praying.

      Thanks for bringing this topic up! Judy

    • Glenn Tan
      September 3, 2007, 9:00 am

      Thanks for writing this “awareness” post to bring about the awareness in us.What you’ve done is prob so importatn that we have forgotten.

      Its the inner bell in us that we need to ring to awaken from the artificial and habitual outer layer.Because the inner power is greater. Chime!