We live in a world where stress is an epidemic and technology keeps us constantly connected. While the pace and intensity of our work culture continually increases, so do stress and burnout. Rich Fernandez is the co-founder of Wisdom Labs, a company dedicated to helping employees and workplaces thrive, through mindfulness and resilience. Fernandez says we need to focus on developing resilience to better cope with the increasing stress and demands of today’s workplace. In an article in the Harvard Business Review, Fernandez explains attitudes and behaviors we can use to build up our resilience.
Use mindfulness. Studies have shown that mindfulness augments cognitive flexibility and facilitates job performance. It can help employees manage stress, improve collaboration, and increase well-being. Implement a combination of mobile learning, onsite training, webinars, and workshops to bring mindfulness into your organization.
Compartmentalize. Our brains take in 11 million bits of information per second, but can only process about 40 at a time. Compartmentalizing your work can increase productivity. Switching between tasks too often makes it hard to ignore distractions and can reduce productivity by 40%. Try “serial monotasking” – dedicate specific times of the day for specific activities, and try not to jump back and forth between tasks too much.
Take breaks. Our focus, clarity, and energy cycles last about 90-120 minutes. In between cycles, take a break to recharge. Detaching for a few minutes can reset your energy, mental clarity, creativity, and focus, making you more resilient throughout the entire day.
Be mentally agile. Your goal should be to respond to a difficult situation, not react to it. Try “decentering” your stressors. Taking a step back to look at the situation neutrally and objectively enables you to resolve issues more wisely. This is a great way to practice RespectfulDo #5, “Get Your Shift Together.” Instead of reacting to a situation immediately with anger or frustration, recognize your shifting emotions and get them under control.
Read the full article for more tips on building resilience.
