READ: Overview of the Work Technique of Mental Effectiveness (2 min)

Mental Effectiveness

Working with mindfulness is about bringing more focus and awareness into your daily work activities. It is about being fully present and aware throughout your workday. It is about bringing mental agility to all we do. The two rules of Mental Effectiveness are:

• Focus on what you choose
• Choose your distractions mindfully

Although multitasking can seem like a shortcut, research shows that multitasking makes us less effective. It can create stress, produce poor results and hinder creativity. The brain gets exhausted when switching its focus back and forth throughout the day.

Focusing on a single task with full attention is like recharging your mental batteries. Do not let distractions dominate your life. Intentionally choose the focus of your work and your life without letting distractions (i.e. phone calls, texts, emails, colleagues, noises, etc.) decide what it is you pay attention to.

Be fully aware of what you are doing and direct your full attention toward it: • When the phone rings: Answer with full attention—or call back when you are ready.

• When an email arrives: Read and answer it with full attention—or let it wait.
• When a colleague asks for your time: Give your full attention—or arrange another time to connect.

The result will give you a clearer and calmer focus throughout the day, which can lead to a greater sense of accomplishment and more satisfaction and enjoyment in everything you do.