What are some ways to develop gratitude and mindfulness for work-life balance?

Our minds return again and again to what is familiar. If negative thoughts are familiar you think more negative thoughts. If you say “I have no time for myself,” you literally reinforce a life where there is little self care. But anything can become familiar. We build new patterns by focusing on what we want to think, believe and live. “Self care in this moment is a cup of hot tea. I have time for self care.” Repeat x 100. “I am grateful for this warm furry coat” (x 100) vs “I hate the cold.” Building a life full of optimism, gratitude and self care begins with your habitual thoughts. Balance is an experience we can cultivate without changing even an hour of our schedule. Start here. Start now. I am putting the kettle on. ??

Gratitude and mindfulness are powerful tools for enhancing work-life balance, contributing to a more fulfilling professional experience and overall well-being.

I mostly work remotely and developing a practice of mindfulness has been instrumental in my success working alone and remembering to be intentional with reaching out to work colleagues. While working from home has many benefits like providing the mental, physical, emotional and spiritual space to create a mindfulness practice, don't forget, we are human beings and humans like interacting with other humans! Maybe not every hour of every day, but to live a balanced work life you need to develop the skills of regulating yourself while also remaining open and genuine with your colleagues. It's all about balance!

1. Mindful Meetings: Begin meetings with a one-minute mindfulness practice. This could involve deep breathing exercises to center the group or a moment of silence to allow attendees to arrive mentally and be fully present. 2. Recognition Programs: Implement peer-to-peer recognition programs where employees can acknowledge and express gratitude for their colleagues' help and support. This can foster a culture of appreciation and teamwork. 3. Mindful Breaks: Create 'mindfulness corners' or quiet zones in the office where employees can take short breaks to meditate, practice breathing exercises, or engage in brief guided relaxation sessions.

Mindful Emailing: Encourage staff to practice mindful emailing, which involves taking a moment before sending an email to ensure the message is clear, necessary, and kind, reflecting on the intention behind the communication. Flexibility for Mindfulness Practices: Allow flexible schedules or breaks for employees interested in attending mindfulness classes or engaging in wellness activities during the day.

Set Mindful Goals: When setting goals, be present and intentional. Understand why these goals matter to you and how they align with your values, which cultivates gratitude for the journey and the destination. Gratitude Reflections: Regularly reflect on the progress you've made towards your goals, acknowledging the work you've put in and the growth you've experienced, which can be as simple as a weekly gratitude journal entry. Mindful Mornings: Start your day with a mindfulness practice, like meditation or deep breathing, to ground yourself in the present. This practice sets a focused and grateful tone for pursuing your daily goals.

Mindfulness is a state that makes us?living in the present moment, being engaged with what we do and being aware of our feelings. Being grateful makes us count our successes and learn from our errors for a better balance in life. For me, planning my activity helps me to know what to expect from a day. During Fridays it helps me to make a summary of that week and plan the next Monday. I like to make lists with things I take from each experience and revisit it from time to time to understand how I changed myself. Based on these I take decisions and make actions.