My YOGIST sticky note to help me manage my time better during my workday

When we interact with others—at the office, at home, or on the street—our attitude and reactions are often shaped by our thoughts and emotions at that very moment. It’s not uncommon to react too quickly, whether consciously or unconsciously, by getting carried away by a daydream, attributing false intentions to the person we’re talking to, and giving more credence to the story playing out in our heads.

That’s when situations that are otherwise manageable start to spiral out of control, because, when we’re tired, we misinterpret reality.

This is the greatest challenge I face, both in my personal life and in my managerial responsibilities. The whole point of yoga is to help us step back, to be present in the moment without reacting immediately. The experience of an Australian friend of mine, Katie, who trained in India with the same teacher as me, perfectly illustrates this principle. During a trip to Bali, I joined her as she was finishing a ten-day fast, during which she had drunk only water and put her digestive functions on “pause” so that her body could devote all its energy to healing an old muscle injury. She described to me the intense emotional periods she had gone through, which—understandably—had put her in a very bad mood at times! With her patience worn thin by the fast, she had felt a strong urge to react immediately to very trivial stimuli. Curious to know how she had weathered this emotional roller coaster, I asked her about her “technique”. Three things had helped her get through those ten days and emerge with more energy, clarity, and patience: “In the morning, take ten minutes to meditate. Then, spend your day repeating to yourself, ‘Don’t react.’ And in the evening, take ten minutes to review the day that’s passed and reflect inwardly, noting the things that went well.”

Learn to get yourself in the right frame of mind first thing in the morning: take a few moments to calm down with a short meditation session, breathing deeply, letting your thoughts wander, or listening to music that you enjoy and find soothing. It’s a great way to prepare yourself for the day ahead without letting minor setbacks get to you.

When you feel like you're about to overreact, take five deep breaths before responding, or roll your tongue around in your mouth seven times (yes, really!).

In the evening: Take a moment to calmly reflect on your day. This is a time for self-reflection that should help you identify any reactions you could have avoided and appreciate all the positive events.

When you don't have a minute to yourself at the office, take my advice! Take a minute to breathe and unwind, no matter what the situation.

Set your watch or stopwatch to one minute.

When the signal is given, start breathing slowly, inhaling through your nose, and exhale deeply to keep the air moving through your body for as long as possible.

Count each deep breath (inhalation and exhalation) in your head until you reach the final count. During your next Yogist minute, focus on your breath and count your inhalations and exhalations until you reach the same number of deep, and above all, calming breaths.

Set aside a few minutes during the day whenever you feel the need.

THE YOGIST METHOD HELPS YOUR EMPLOYEES IMPROVE THEIR TIME MANAGEMENT
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