COVID 19 - Mind Your Head!

When I searched for COVID-19 on google it took just .48 seconds for google to cough up 5,240,000,000 search results! It is no secret that this has disrupted everything and everyone like nothing else in living memory.

When there is so much going on around us, when there is so much uncertainty, when we feel totally helpless, when so many are depending on us to do the right thing, how can we act responsibly?

I recently attended an Organisational Coaching certification workshop at the Institute of Executive Coaching and Leadership. One of the things Jane Porter led us in practice during the workshop was mindfulness. I found this a particularly powerful exercise to do before commencing a coaching engagement, to make sure you leave all the distractions behind, and focus on the most important task at hand – to be present for your Coaching Counterpart (Coachee).



What is Mindfulness? Some of you may be asking what Mindfulness is. The Foundation for a Mindful Society describes it as  “Mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us”

It is not something alien to us, we all have it in us, we just need to focus on it. Although I was a sceptic as the beginning, I find practicing mindfulness is a great way to ‘be present’ and that helps me be at my best.

WIIFM? So what’s in it for you? “Give it a try” says Christine O’Shaughnessy, a former investment bank executive who lead workshops at Harvard, “Doing mindfulness is like a fitness routine for your brain,” she said, “It keeps your brain healthy.”

How do I? So you want to know a few simple steps to practice mindfulness? After looking at many suggested steps, I found the following Mindfulness meditation made easy guide from the Harvard Gazette to be a good starting point. 

• Settle in

  Find a quiet space. Using a cushion or chair, sit up straight but not stiff; allow your head and shoulders to rest comfortably; place your hands on the tops of your legs with upper arms at your side.

• Now breathe

  Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and relax. Feel the fall and rise of your chest and the expansion and contraction of your belly. With each breath notice the coolness as it enters and the warmth as it exits. Don't control the breath but follow its natural flow.

• Stay focused

  Thoughts will try to pull your attention away from the breath. Notice them, but don't pass judgment. Gently return your focus to your breath. Some people count their breaths as a way to stay focused.

• Take 10

  A daily practice will provide the most benefits. It can be 10 minutes per day, however, 20 minutes twice a day is often recommended for maximum benefit.

Hope it helps to make your day(s) better, as it did mine!