Mindfulness can be described as being physically, mentally, and emotionally aware. Aware of your own presence, the presence of those things and people around you, and what you’re feeling in the current moment. And, an acceptance of that.
With so many daily distractions that disrupt our presence, mindfulness can be a challenging state to achieve. However, if we make the time and spend 2-3 minutes in our daily practice on being focused on the moment at hand, it’s amazing what results we may be able to achieve.
So, in your quest for mindfulness, focus your attention on the steps below.
5 STEPS THAT CAN HELP YOU ACHIEVE MINDFULNESS
1. Slow Down: If you’re in rush-rush mode, I’ve found that slowing down is easier than the complete stop. Whether you about to help your nursing colleague turn a patient, page a Provider about orders you found to be confusing on the chart, or you’re answering your patient’s faulty call-bell for the 100th time. Wherever you are, whatever you may be doing… take a deep breath in and then exhale. You may not have stopped all of your actions or thoughts in that moment, but simply making a purposeful effort to breathe deeply will naturally will slow you down.
2. Stop: Then, when you can, find a quiet spot, even if just for 2 minutes. (We’ve all found those secret places at work where we can escape to, right?). Once you’ve found that place, simply stop all action, silence your thoughts on what you were doing, what needs to be done and the things that never got done.
3. Acknowledge: Once you’ve stopped, take inventory of your physical presence, your thoughts, your feelings, your environment, and acknowledge what is in front of you at the current moment. Again, don’t focus on the tasks or the patients that are waiting for you. Be very aware of your surroundings. Acknowledge the temperature of the room, the hum in the air, your mood at the moment, the clothing against your skin.
4. Process: Now, how do you feel about what you hear, see, feel, touch or even taste. What appreciation can you give for what you sense?
5. Accept: After processing the moment, make a point to accept that which is. Don’t attempt to change your thoughts, feelings, or being. Simply accept the clarity you’ve received in your attention to mindfulness. And then, take another deep breath and move forward with your day.
Have you engaged in mindfulness in your nursing practice or when experiencing stress? Do you have any challenges when seeking presence? Any wins? Please let us know in the comments below.
This post was originally posted on April 28, 2015.
Stopping for nurses is hard. We push and push ourselves to accomplish more tasks, wait another hour for lunch, or finish the charting before going to the bathroom. Taking that short 120 seconds can make a huge difference on how we feel and approach the shift.
Hi Carrie… I’ve definitely been guilty of the things you state in your comments. But you’re right. 120 seconds can make a huge difference.
I have definitely noticed that when I am in a rush I am also more frustrated. When I slow down, things flow more smoothly. Thanks for the reminder!
Thanks Maureen!
Good stuuf for me to work on, thanks! Especially the As: acknowledging and accepting, the hard stuff…
Thanks for reading Greg!
Thank you, Marsha for giving steps. I like Acknowledge because then I can appreciate what’s around me. There really is beauty everywhere, and it’s tragic to waste it busy too busy.
Truly tragic Beth. All the steps are what I’m striving to do more often.
Acknowledging is probably the hardest part. Sometimes when we slow down we don’t like what we see/hear. It’s a great reminder that we need to do this step. It can empower us to let go of what is holding us back. Great post, thanks Marsha!
Thanks for reading Elizabeth!
STOPA – That’s fabulous Marsha. The most important for me is ‘acceptance’ of what is happening, not easy. It’s a practice of course. And STOPA is a path to mindfulness and greater peace and patient care. Loved it!
Thanks for reading Annette! Of course I took lots of tips from your YogaNursing session last month!
Great post. I really like the 5 steps. Your point that it only takes 2-3 minutes is key because we get so busy in our day. Anyone can stop for 2-3 minutes to center themselves and achieve better results.
Thanks for reading Lorie!
Marsha,
Thanks for this great tool. I teach a slightly different version of this in my Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) courses. It’s handy whether you are with a challenging patient or on one of your great trips!
Eileen
Thanks for reading Eileen! And thanks for sharing your resource as well.