Read this anecdote - does it ring any bells?
A Morning Story
I drive to school every day. Yesterday was a lovely spring morning, and I spent the drive discussing the Year 11 timetable with my head of department. I made some pretty powerful points, I can tell you, but I just couldn't get him to accept my point of view. By the time I got to school, I was pretty wound up.
In the staff car park, I got out of my car. Alone. Just as I had been for the entire journey. The meeting and the argument had all been in my mind. I was still feeling tense, though - tense about a meeting that hadn't taken place yet, and annoyed at stubbornness which might never happen. It is lucky that I am a safe driver and my route is along quiet roads, because I can remember virtually nothing about my journey to school. This is a a pity, because it was a lovely morning.
Later, I came out of a staff meeting where I hadn't agreed with the Headteacher but I had decided not to say anything. I spent most of my playground duty rehearsing clever things I could have said, and re-enacting a stressful showdown in which I was triumphant. Luckily, there were no serious incidents in the playground. These mental arguments, of course, had no outcome, apart from losing me in a mental fog for twenty minutes of my day.
The fact is that many teachers can spend too much of their lives unconsciously absorbed in a future that hasn't happened yet or in a past that is already gone and done.
Instead they could strive to constantly stay in touch with the present moment - the only time in which a human being can live and act.
The message is clear: unless we resolve to live in the present and to seize what life offers, we will miss many opportunities, and experience only a part of our lives.
In many areas of human activity (business, sport, theatre), the notion of mindfulness is applied. It may involve different vocabulary – 'being in the zone', 'keeping grounded' or 'staying in the present' – but the basic idea remains the same.
It isn't enough just to tell yourself to concentrate or to 'focus on what you're doing'. It takes discipline and practise to achieve full concentration on key tasks, but the results can be dramatic. If you are not 'mindful' at work, you may limit your creativity and productivity.
The practice of mindfulness is best learned from an experienced guide, but here are a few ways to get started in "real time management":
• Pay attention to your breathing. Find a quiet space and concentrate on the flow of your breath, in and out. If and when your mind begins to wander, gently bring it back to noticing your breathing.
• Bring awareness to sensations of touch. Our bodies are always in the present moment, our minds are not. Consciously feeling your feet on the floor, your bum on a chair, or your clothes against your skin can bring your mind back to the present too.
• Watch your speed. A racing mind rarely follows a logical path. Three times a day, for one minute, simply stop what you're doing and notice what's happening in your mind and body. Becoming more familiar with your mind's habitual patterns can help you to work with them more skilfully.
Read more about mindfulness here.
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