Module 2 10 Minutes A Day Blog

     Taking only 10 minutes a day to do nothing accomplishes more than you would think. After three days of taking 10 mindful minutes a day to meditate, as Andy Puddicombe (2012) suggests, I have found that I am happier and more productive with my other tasks. However, as easy as it sounds it is a difficult task to perform. I discovered that trying to do nothing is one of the hardest things to do. My mind would continually wonder and worry about the next task. After several failed attempts, I was able to sit and do nothing and the end result was a refreshed and rejuvenated mind with clarity.

    Lately, I have been undergoing a lot of stress with a high-tempo job, wedding planning, being a homeowner, and now taking graduate classes. Downtime is unheard of in current life, but, I learned something valuable from this weeks lesson which is that we must make an effort to live in the present. As Puddicombe (2012) offers, “familiarize yourself with the present moment so you can experience the greatest sense of focus, calm, and clarity in your life.” I am a future-oriented person and am always worried about tomorrow and beyond. Living in the present is something I really struggle with and I catch myself complaining often. Something I found useful in addition to 10 mindful minutes comes from our textbook which suggests using a gratitude journal daily. “Despite being easy to implement, their effects are powerful and significant in fostering resiliency and helping to enhance well-being” (Whetten & Cameron, 2016, p. 112). I have realized that living in the present includes being grateful for what you have to include material items as well as interpersonal relationships. As a busy person, it is important for me to step back at times and appreciate where I am in the moment in order to reduce stress and to be happier overall.

    I highly recommend to others to embrace these mindful minute techniques and I will continue them. Prior to this exercise, my ultimate mind escape has always been running. Whenever I hit the trail and be all alone, to be one with nature, I begin to understand my truest self, I de-stress, and I enjoy the here and now. Unfortunately, this is something I haven’t been able to do much since the Mississippi climate is much hotter and more humid than in Colorado. I miss Colorado and the nature there, however, with Puddicombe’s technique I have realized I can accomplish a similar state of calm and clarity as I could with running. In order to keep meditation routine, however, it is something that must be scheduled. As Whetten & Cameron (2016) state, “if you let others determine what is and is not important, you will never effectively manage your time” (p. 97). Moreover, from personal research Welsh (2015) writes, “make it a point to schedule time with your loved ones and friends as well as activities that will help you recharge and give you more energy like going to the gym.” This is a technique I have seen several of my military commanders use since they would block out time on their schedule for working out, personal time, thinking time, lunch time, and even date night with their spouse. I plan to take control of my schedule and to practice mindfulness every day. By making a deliberate effort to have mindful time, I think I will be able to cope with stress better with stronger resiliency and a healthier well-being.

References:

Puddicombe, A. [TED]. (2013, January 11). All it takes is 10 mindful minutes | Andy Puddicombe                 [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzR62JJCMBQ&ab_channel=TED

Welsh, C. (2015, November 16). Consequences of Poor Work-Life Balance. Capacity Trust.                         http://www.capacitytrust.com/blog/our-services/sustain/consequences-of-poor-work-life-balance/

Whetten, D. Cameron, K. (2016). Developing Management Skills. (9th Ed.) Pearson.

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