When working with our clients, in addition to providing resources and advice on their business, we also pay attention to how our clients are taking care of themselves. One of the areas of self care that we talk about is the benefits of movement. Yoga is one of the practices we recommend.
It got us thinking that one of the elements in yoga can be directly applied to your business day.
For those of you who don’t know yoga, at the end of a class there is a pose called Savasana. You literally lay on the floor on a mat (think kindergarten rest time). Gradually, you relax your body and let go of the thoughts that may be racing through your mind. The idea is to enter a truly relaxed state that is deeply refreshing. This process of relaxation allows you to incorporate the ease and effort of the yoga session in your body and your mind.
This is harder than it sounds. When you are moving throughout a yoga class, you have things to focus on. Listening to your instructor, the position of your body and coordinating breathing with movement. When you stop and lie on the floor in a prone position like a corpse (Savasana literally means corpse pose in Sanskrit), your mind can start to race.
To help the brain start to calm down, one of our favorite yoga teachers says:
“For the next 5 minutes no one needs you and you don’t have to do anything. This is the time to take in and appreciate all of the hard work you have accomplished in your practice. Let go of any judgment. If thoughts of the world float in, acknowledge them and then imagine them floating out into the future. You have nowhere to be, nothing to do.”
You can apply the same concepts to the end of your work day without taking a full yoga class (although we would recommend it).
Think of it as an End of Work Day Savasana.
Before you leave the office, get out of your car after a commute or walk out of your home office try the following:
Set a timer for 5 minutes.
Close your eyes (maybe put on some music, maybe lay down).
Gently breathe in and out.
Concentrate on your breathing.
Think about a place that is relaxing (maybe a beach, a forest or a comfy bed). If it's a forest, imagine the sound of the breeze in the pine trees, the fragrance of your surroundings and the crunch of the pine needles as you walk.
Focus and appreciate all that you accomplished. Focus and appreciate all of the effort that you gave the day.
When the timer goes off, take a deep breath and open your eyes.
It is inevitable that some of the issues you are grappling with in your business will try to make their way into your consciousness. When the problems of the day or the challenges of tomorrow enter your mind, try the following:
Let them float in, don’t hold on to them. Let them float out.
Remind yourself that they will be there tomorrow. Nothing is going to be accomplished by thinking about them in these 5 minutes.
Refocus on the positive elements of your day, the ins and outs of your breath and the details of your calming place.
At the end of the business day, you can’t solve any of the problems of the future but you can become energized by the high points of your day. This will help you bring the best version of yourself to your evening to the benefit of your friends and family. It will also make you refreshed to take on the next day.
Give it a try. We think you will like it.