5 Ways to Increase Inner Peace at Work

For many of us work is the greatest single source of stress in our lives. We feel overworked and under appreciated. Office politics drives us insane and the sucking up to superiors by our co-workers sometimes literally makes us sick to our stomach’s.

We often have unreasonable deadlines and incompetent support to get everything accomplished on our task list. Incessant gossip and backstabbing have become commonplace and just when we seem to get close to caught up, someone hands us another pile of work.

This my friends is how we spend the “best years of our lives.” Typically we devote between 50 – 60 hours per week at our primary source of income. Quite understandably this time spent working can be quite exasperating.

But what if there was another way? A way to ensure that the time you spend providing for your family is as blissful as a gentle breeze on a warm sunny afternoon. What if you possessed an emotional toolbox of skills that you could readily access to trim away your stress and confidently unscrew your anxiety?

Here you’ll find 5 things you can start doing today to create your own private oasis of peace in your workplace. These 5 activities will leave you refreshed, invigorated and with a greater sense of peaceful calm as you, both complete your assigned task and in how you interact with others.

Off we go!

1) Set intentions for your day. Intentions can be twofold in this instance. The first is practical and relates simply to task or projects to be completed. It is incredibly helpful to start the day with a goal(s). Start with what is most pressing then try and include task that will put you ahead of your work curve. If you can give yourself a head start on projects that are coming up, even if it is simply getting them organized on paper that relieves the stress on your mind and can help alleviate the possibility of future stress building up.

The second type of intention is the intention you make in how you will feel. Projecting positive outcomes to your tasks, projects and interactions. You might set an intention to successfully complete a task or that you will maintain an upbeat and positive attitude throughout the day regardless of what occurs. These intentions set the tone for the potential of how your day will turn out. Positive expectation often leads to positive results.

2) Get up and away from your workspace regularly. Grab a drink of water, go for an office stroll. Go freshen up you make-up. If possible, go outside and take deep breath of fresh air. Do a quick stretching routine. This influx of activity will help to break up monotony in your work routine as well as giving you the physical benefits of getting you out of a seated position to activate your heart, lungs and muscles. I strongly recommend you work stretching into this routine. Practicing one of our previous mindfulness exercises is also a great idea.

3) Take 5 – 10 minutes twice a day to “escape” the building to meditate. That’s right, “ESCAPE” to your car, a nearby park or anywhere where you will absolutely, positively not be disturbed. Be sure and turn off your phone. Sit upright and go through a brief meditation where you simply sit and focus on your breathing while letting any thoughts that arise in your busy mind gently float out of your consciousness. This practice will leave you rested and reinvigorated for the next segment of your workday.

4) Take a deep breath. When dealing with an irate customer or coworker don’t immediately react or jump on the defensive. Take a deep breath and focus on the message they are trying to convey. This may be challenging if they are being loud and aggressive but try your best to simply focus on gaining understanding of not only their situation but try to also understand and empathize with their perspective. Try not to find blame and intently focus on understanding their concern. Then when they are done expressing their concern, or displeasure take another deep breath. Begin your response as compassionately as you can with, “I can certainly understand why you might feel upset by this.” Then as clearly as possible rephrase what you understand their complaint to be. You are trying to if nothing else assure this person that they have been acknowledged, heard and understood. Let your mind focus on solutions. Then, if you have one offer them your solution or if more appropriate ask them to help you develop one that is practical and suitable to them.

Viola! You might have just made a new ally.

5) Offer sincere gratitude to coworkers, clients, supervisors, yourself and whatever religious or spiritual deity you worship. Do this early and OFTEN throughout the day. Perhaps nothing elevates your mood and deepens your sense of peace faster or more effectively than sincere gratitude expressed by you for all of the positive events that occur throughout your day. If you practice doing this I assure you that within a couple of days your whole outlook on your work if not your entire life will shift. People will respond to you differently, you will perceive things differently. Problems will be more easily solved and people will respond to you in more positive ways. You will not only increase your level of inner peace but the overall sense of peace in your entire work environment will be elevated. Be sure and finish the day with gratitude for another day successfully completed. Even if there is still work yet to be done that carries over.

Master these 5 practices and watch your level of satisfaction at work soar to new heights. Soon you’ll naturally notice that your level of inner peace in every area of your life deepens as well.

Schedule your complimentary Stress Relief Coaching session with Eric by clicking the “Book Now” button below. And start moving deeper into your life of inner peace, joy and fulfillment regardless of circumstances.

If it cost you your peace, it’s too expensive!