Is it stressful to look for a job?
Yoga against stress It’s yoga week in Milan.
I started doing yoga thanks to a short course organised by Milan’s Local Council Leisure Department in June.
I found an article that looks at the connection between zen and stress, entitled "Finding Your Inner Zen During Stressful Times" by the Columbia Business School, that I would like to comment on.
I’m getting into yoga. Why?
Nowadays we all face one form or other of stress.
Some people have lost their jobs, others help people who have lost a job to find a new one. Some people want change and think they can achieve it quickly but are forced to deal with the reality that it’s not going to be easy.
Some people are bored with what they’re doing but don’t know what to do about it! They feel like they’re stuck in a cul de sac.
Other people shouldn’t have anything to worry about, but their pride makes them think otherwise.
In other words, everyone could benefit from some relaxation, concentration, or even meditation and prayer.
Some companies have realised that stress can be harmful and have introduced basic yoga practice. Once again, it’s the US leading the way 😊
Recognising “negative” stress and expressing this out loud is the first step.
“I think that even just calling out that it’s a stressful time and allowing for a bit more flexibility can go a long way. We’ve had clients where the CEOs have reached out to entire teams saying, ‘This is a challenging time. Here are resources available, here are affinity groups that exist in our organization, and here are [other] resources available through our healthcare provider.’”
– Columbia Business School
As simple as breathing!
“First, don’t feel like you have to be super ambitious with cultivating new habits during this stressful period. Just allowing yourself to breathe during the work day and taking moments for yourself can go a long way. One technique that is highly effective is taking three deep breaths and setting an intention for each. The first is to be present in the moment, the second is to relax your body, and the third is to invite joy, which might mean physically making yourself smile.
– Columbia Business School
Simple like water
“Another simple tip is to commit to staying hydrated. So often being dehydrated can manifest as additional anxiety. You can even buy a pretty water pitcher to keep on your desk.
– Columbia Business School
Simple like walking
Finally, taking a moment to walk around the block during the workday can really have an impact on your mood, especially if you work in a space where there is not a lot of sunlight. Though, walking indoors is also a mood lifter — try going to get coffee on a different floor if you’re trying to sneak some extra walking into your day!”
– Columbia Business School
Why do this in companies?
There is a huge benefit to group meditation sessions. They can help workers cultivate empathy and compassion for their colleagues. So when companies are looking for ways to bring people together and make them feel connected during an especially divisive time, meditation is a particularly valuable tool. In general, office wellness programs can help attract and retain great people, increase productivity, and reduce health-insurance costs for employers. But stress reduction is probably the number-one pain point that’s mentioned when companies reach out to us.”
– Columbia Business School
In the GoodGoing! network we also have yoga practitioners and we can certainly put you in touch with teachers of yoga, reiki, kinesiologists, etc.
