The Luxasia Way of Unleashing Your Full Potential (Mindfulness at Work) series: Be Present

What It Means to “Be Present”

To “Be Present” simply means that you have to focus your attention on the here and now.

It is about investing your undivided attention and energy into the thing (be it task, event, or even rest) that you are doing at the present moment. To achieve progress, you need to focus and evaluate one thing at a time. This helps you to find the best solution for each challenge that you need to overcome.

Arguably, the present is the only time we have complete control of. You can neither change the past, nor the future. However, what you can do is to learn from the past so that you can do your best in the present to create the best future for yourself. 

Multi-tasking: The Time and Energy Waster

The concept of multi-tasking seems productive. It is perceived as being more efficient and productive because you get more things accomplished at one go. In other words, there seems to be a large quantity of work that can be accomplished. However, consider the quality of the work that has been produced – can you ascertain that you have delivered your best work? More often than not, the answer is “no.”

At work, we tend to resort to multi-tasking due to an overwhelming workload. Unfortunately, your brain’s bandwidth cannot withstand switching between too many tasks. In fact, studies from the American Psychology Association show that multi-tasking actually reduces productivity by as much as 40%. More studies have also concluded that our brains are not made for multitasking. Your effectiveness therefore becomes compromised when you have to re-focus across multiple tasks.

Contrasting being present (i.e. tackling one task at a time) with multi-tasking:

·        Being present – gets the best outcome for each task but takes a longer time. However, over say 100 tasks, we accumulate 100 best outcomes

·        Multi-tasking – gets a sub-optimal (but still workable) outcome for each task faster. However, over say 100 tasks, we accumulate 100 sub-optimal outcomes

We are the sum of decisions we make. Think about that. Achieving excellence indeed takes time. I would personally prefer to achieve excellence while taking a longer time, as opposed to achieving mediocrity fast. 

Putting It into Practice – Basic Breathing

I am keenly aware of how being in our hectic and demanding society, our default state is one of mental busyness, with attention being demanded of us from multiple avenues.

Because of the multiple hats I wear as a father, leader, mentor, and Group CEO, being present is both a conscious choice and a state that I need to mindfully enter into multiple times a day. As such, I would like to share a simple practice that helps me to be present and focus myself on the task at hand – Basic Breathing.

While I will share more about the principles of Basic Breathing in my next article, here are some tips that I can leave with you about how taking time to breathe helps you to still your mind so that you can be present. It requires you to set aside just 3 minutes before you enter into your next task or meeting.

·        Spend 1 minute to close your eyes, breathe in for 3 seconds, hold for 4 seconds, and breathe out for 7 seconds – do this 6 times, thinking of nothing

·        Spend the next 1 minute breathing calmly with your normal rhythm, while telling yourself to let go of whatever has happened in the day so far – it is in the past

·        Spend the final minute breathing normally, assuring yourself that you are ready for your next task at hand

Beyond Work, be Present for the People and Moments that Matter

Aside from work, being present when you are amongst loved ones can be the best present you can give. The gift of quality time (placing emphasis on the word ‘quality’) is one of the most overlooked, yet precious gift you can offer. After all, it is one of the five love languages, the different ways in which people can express their affections to improve their relationships with their loved ones.

For me, beyond work, the need to be present in my personal life is even more important. It enables me to make the best of the time spent with my family by being there for them physically, mentally, and emotionally.