Maintain Your Center Throughout The Workday

“Once you gain confidence in your ability to stay anchored, you can intentionally adjust the balance toward calm when you feel a rise in anxiety or toward more energy when you need to take action.”

― Deb Dana, from Anchored

Some days can get away from you before you sit down at your desk, while other days can be a slog. As our days pull us along or come at us, we ride the waves of our own regulation. Being able to find our center when we get knocked off course can help us navigate the day with more ease and grace. 

In this podcast episode, Miriam Meima and I talk about ways to set yourself up for the day–no matter what happens. Ultimately, we inquire about and surface ways to help you stay present and anchored in a full-bodied way. Bringing our body into the equation makes a big difference. 

We stay more connected and attuned to ourselves, advocate for our needs, and abandon ourselves less (a way to avoid burnout). 

• What can you do to take care of yourself before you are ‘on’ for the day? What do you need before you meet the needs of kids, employees, clients, and customers? What movement do you need? What practices help you connect to yourself? What helps you meet your needs so that you can meet the day?
  
• How can you set up your workspace or environment so that you feel resourced? While we can’t plan for the mystery box that some of our days may turn out to be, we can plan for what we know we need to take care of ourselves in terms of nourishment, taking breaks, and returning to a working pace that suits us. What in your space helps you feel comfortable? What in your space awakens your senses? What in your space serves as reminders of meaningful and valuable things to help you show up at your best?
• When things get uncomfortable, ask yourself the question: What might I need to be more comfortable right now? Sometimes it’s a bio-break or a sip of water. Other times, you may need something cozy and soft, or something heavy. Sometimes you might need to do a quick check-in, journal, or return to your breath. Asking this question is a subtle bit of magic: it gets you to check in with yourself and your body and what you might need.
• When the going gets tough, the tough turn to their breath. Your breath is always with you. Focusing on your breath sends a signal to your brain that you are not dying (no matter how threatening that email or meeting was) and helps you come back to center so that you can respond with more ease and grace when you’re ready to.
• Adapt as needed throughout the day. Give yourself permission to cancel less important things or things that can be rescheduled. Be honest with yourself and those you are meeting with about what you are available for today, or in your time together. Consider doing a check-in with all the people in the meeting or survey energy levels and adjust meeting flow or agendas accordingly. 

In many ways, these practices, once adopted into your way of working, can shift your way of being with work. Over time and use, they can be one-minute miracles to keep you operating from your strong suit on days gone awry.