Integrating transformative Eastern wellness practices into your work life: Lessons from my trip to Nepal and India

My role doesn’t often give me a lot of time to just stop and think. However, on my recent journey through Nepal and India, I didn’t have a choice. Throughout a period of silence, I was practically forced to come to a complete stop and attempt to take in my surroundings. The last two weeks have been eye-opening, not just in terms of the vastly unique cultural experiences of the places I travelled to but also in understanding the profound impact of wellness practices that are so ingrained in India and Nepal. From the bustling streets of Delhi to the serene temples in the hills around Kathmandu, I've reflected on the invaluable ancient teaching of yoga and Buddhism to share my musings on how we can transform the way we approach life and subsequently our work.

Gratitude for the opportunity to work

In regions like the ones I visited where economic challenges are more real and apparent, I was struck by the prevailing sense of gratitude everywhere. Gratitude not only for the opportunity to work but the ability people have to get up and do their jobs. Despite facing adversity, I met countless people who expressed their overwhelming appreciation for the ability to earn a livelihood and support their families.

When contrasting this to my own life I started to notice a growing gratitude for both having a job and the ability for me to choose my career, my company, and my role. We all know the impact of a tough day, a tough period of organisation change, or even tough conversations with coworkers. When you are bombarded with the gratitude and sheer joy people feel for just having a means of income it prompts you to check yourself.

Not only do I have a job, but I really enjoy the area I work in and the fantastic people I get to spend my days with. My gratitude should be beaming out of me with every step! Returning to work I am reminding myself. Be grateful beyond… Beyond the paycheck, beyond the industry experience, beyond the free kitchen snacks and gym access. Take it a step further. Foster a sense of deeper fulfilment and fuel your motivation to make a positive impact with the work you are doing.

Start small. Even if you are just grateful for the fact that you can?get up and out of bed?to get into your work, find gratitude for that.

The power of connectivity

It can be highlighted in graphic detail how hyper-connected we are when travelling to remote parts of the world unable to connect to the internet. Our dependence on interconnectivity is painted on the faces of the people (tourists) gathering in the only coffee shop with electricity and halfway decent wifi.

There is no doubt that connectivity through forging meaningful relationships or leveraging technology to collaborate across borders enriches our daily experiences. But as I was away, with some time spent on a silent retreat in a Tibetan Buddhist monastery, I found myself asking the question – how much are we actually connecting in this connected world? My experiences in Nepal with just a few days in silence showed me the feeling of being unable to verbally connect with anyone. I realised the importance of building bridges, fostering empathy, and embracing diversity in all my life’s interactions. Of course, this is the extreme end of the spectrum, but I left Nepal with more questions than answers. Are we devaluing the opportunity to foster deeper connections in our lives? We spend roughly?30% of our waking hours ?and?20% of our total lifetime ?at work. Why are we not thinking of this as a place to create some of the best connections of our lives? Are we missing out on a deeper layer of human interaction because we chose to eat lunch at our desks?

Finding happiness in your job

In both Nepal and India, I encountered people who exuded genuine joy and contentment in their work. Whether they were working in their father's local shop, artisans crafting intricate handicrafts, or entrepreneur yogis offering advanced yoga classes, healing packages, discount dinners, and rooms to boot! Everywhere I went there was a palpable sense of drive and fulfilment in the day-to-day of work, despite the limited resources or ‘career options’. This emphasised the importance of finding happiness in what we do. Regardless of our industry, level, role or work task, cultivating a positive mindset and deriving satisfaction from our contributions can make a world of difference in our career journey and our professional day to day.??

This was also a huge privilege check. For most of you reading this, you have a choice for your working life. This is your push to think about your?ikigai ?and seek out more ways to find meaning in what you do. This doesn’t necessarily mean leaving your job today and trying to become the superhero you always dreamt of being as a kid. It’s really about putting in a bit of extra love to what you do and ultimately giving a shit. Seek out the extra 10% in your company like a diversity or wellness group and get amongst it, if it doesn’t exist create one. You are the master of your destiny, even if you don’t feel like you’re in the right place for your ultimate life calling, make the most of where you are at right now.

Mindfulness really matters

Surely no one needs any more proof of how mindfulness practices help our brain and mood. So why is it still so hard to add these practices to our busy, dynamic lives? One of the key takeaways from my travels has been the power we can cultivate through mindfulness. Amidst the chaos of busy markets and crowded streets, sat people who were remarkably centred and at peace. Their ability to stay present in the moment, whether engaging in a simple task or enjoying a cup of masala chai, resonated deeply with me. I drink coffee on the way to work without thinking, just rushing from the train to the office. I never slow down, savour each sip, just to enjoy the experience.??

Mindfulness in the West has become this huge, monstrous topic. It’s corporate peppering on top of disingenuous wellness programs and another thing to cross off the to-do list. This is such a backward pursuit of a simple and beautiful practice. Mindfulness isn’t having a meditation room or office sleep pod. It's about the small things. Take the time to leave your desk and actually look at what you’re eating for lunch. Look at the colours, feel the textures. Spend some time to appreciate what you are fuelling your body with. Or even on your next Zoom call encourage everyone to say how they are feeling in that moment, actually listen, actively listen. Incorporating mindfulness practices into our behaviours doesn’t have to be a massive undertaking. It is simple and beautiful, keep it that way and you will see the things around you start to flourish.

Celebrating small moments of joy

I get it. It’s cold, your back hurts, your team lost at the weekend and your children haven’t smiled at you in weeks. It’s hard to find the joy in the greyness of life. The greatest piece of insight I left Asia with was how essential it is to pause and celebrate the small moments of joy. From relishing a delicious new food combination to sharing a genuine smile or laugh with another human being during a train journey. These seemingly insignificant moments can infuse our days with positivity and joy. By embracing a mindset of appreciation and appreciating simple pleasures, it puts the meaning of life into context. It’s really not that bad. Especially not if you are reading this over your morning coffee in a cup that says ‘like a boss’, scrolling through LinkedIn for industry updates!!

When you start looking for it, joy is everywhere. Kids are riddled with it. It's in the beams of the sun or the sweet droplets of the rain. Top tip to find joy in the trivial things. Go without something for a day. Your morning coffee, your Thursday night Zumba class, reading the FT. Whatever you choose, notice the joy you get the following day when you allow yourself to have it again.

Hot off the heels of the trip I am committed to infusing these realisations from my trip into my professional days. I invite you to join me on this journey, prioritise mindfulness, find happiness in our work, express gratitude for the opportunity to contribute, foster connectivity, and celebrate the small moments of joy that enrich our lives.

Or just smile, knowing that you gave yourself the personal time of 5 minutes to get to the end of this article.?