There’s a habit that’s missing from your daily routine that is just as important as brushing your teeth. Sounds crazy, doesn’t it? Well, it’s true. It’s a habit that requires very little extra time, no money, and will save you hours of stress each day. This habit will help you achieve a constant state of happiness, and will essentially change the way you live you life. The habit… drum roll please… is mindfulness, or meditation. Just as brushing your teeth clears away unwanted bacteria and plaque, meditation clears away negative and unproductive thoughts.
You might not think that sitting in silence for ten minutes each day will affect how you make decisions, the way you think, and how you solve problems as an event creator. However, you might be surprised to learn the benefits of this simple, free, and effective practice.
You don’t just have to take my word it, plenty of (in fact, most) successful people share a few similar daily routines that have led to their success, one of which is some form of meditation practice.
“… Even in the daily craziness that bombards us from every direction, there is — still — the constancy of stillness. Only from that space can you create your best work and your best life.”
– Oprah Winfrey, Chairwoman & CEO, Harpo Productions, Inc.
“You don’t have to believe in meditation for it to work, you just have to take the time to do it.”
– Russell Simmons, Co-Founder, Def Jam Records; Founder of GlobalGrind.com
“Meditation has given me centeredness and creativity. It’s also given me peace and health.”
– Ray Dalio, Founder & Co-CIO, Bridgewater Associates USA
I’ll bet many of you overachievers out there do an awesome job at work, but find it difficult to relax or simply sit still. If you’re not doing something productive or networking and making connections, it’s off the schedule. So, telling you to just sit in a quiet place and breathe for a few minutes probably doesn’t sound like something you’re keen on cramming into your busy schedule. Although this is a common thought, it is not valid.
Simply sitting in a quiet place to observe your breath can enhance your creativity, reduce anxiety by 40%, and help you to establish better relationships.
A study done at the University of Pittsburgh proved that the prefrontal cortex (associated with focus, concentration, and decision-making) grows larger through meditation practice, while the amygdala (responsible for fear and the fight-or-flight response) shrinks. People who routinely practice meditation strengthen certain parts of their brains in the same way working out strengthens your muscles. However, just like working out once a week would result in less than ideal athletic performance, meditation requires a consistent practice regimen as well. The good news for people on a tight schedule- practicing mindfulness for twenty-five minutes just three times per week is all it takes to significantly decrease your stress and reduce anxiety. If twenty-five minutes feels intimidating, start with five to ten minutes of guided meditation using an app like Omvana or Headspace
Many people say that it’s not the situation that matters, so much as one’s reaction to the situation at hand. Oftentimes, our reactions to unpleasant situations can serve as distractions and result in wasted time and unfinished business. Through meditation, you will learn to control your reactions and basically react in a less impulsive and aggressive way. Research shows that an ability to resist urges and distractions will improve your relationships, increase your dependability, and raise your performance. Similarly, meditation can help you stay focused and accomplish more objectives by training your brain to stay on task.
Meditation can help get you into a state of creativity and idea generation by teaching you to listen to your intuition. Many times, we kill ideas as soon as they arise based on fear. We are afraid others won’t agree or see the same genius and beauty in it. By training your mind to quiet the voice of fear and trust your intuition, you will maintain the integrity of your good ideas. As a result of your relaxed and clear mind, you will increase the frequency of “Ah-Ha! moments”, or epiphanies. This is because you have given your brain a break from the constant noise that usually clutters and stifles good ideas. Many companies, like Google, implement meditation to promote innovation and idea generation.
There are loads of reasons to develop a mindfulness practice. However, taking the first step and sitting down to meditate can often be the biggest challenge. Using an app or beginner resource might help you get started. Once you’ve meditated for a few days, the results will become obvious; you will begin to see a difference in how you view and approach the everyday annoyances, burdens, and anxieties that inevitably arise while creating events. Additionally, be prepared to watch your productivity skyrocket while eliminating stress and distractions. And remember, as long as you continue to practice daily, you will continue to improve and become an extremely successful event creator!
If you enjoyed this post, be sure to check out: 6 Ways to Decrease Event Stress.