Take 2 minutes to do this little exercise at the end of a working day and you'll find it much easier to leave work behind. You can also do this anytime you need to clear your thoughts...
PART 1: First, tidy your desk. Yes, I know, but think how good you'll feel when you come in to a tidy desk! (If you're still suffering from 'desk-SMOG' - see above - then at least make a clear space in the middle.)
Now take a clean sheet of paper, or a clean page in your organiser/notebook. You're going to write 2 lists (headed "Keep Safe Until Wanted" and "Let Go Of") comprising all of the important, significant, irritating, urgent etc things about your working day - all that stuff that whizzes around in your head when you don't want it to. (NB You're not writing a report - use a FEW words for each, or doodle something - it only needs to make sense to you.)
PART 2: You're now going to let your imagination work. So sit back, close your eyes and turn your attention to your breathing. Spend a few moments listening to the sound of the breath coming gently in through your nose and out through your mouth. With each out breath, allow your shoulders to relax and any tension to fall away.
Imagine you have two boxes. One box keeps safe the things you put into it. The other box is a composter - it breaks down its contents enabling the energy to be released and recycled. Go through your lists, mentally putting each item into the appropriate box. As you transfer each item, tick off those on the "Keep Safe" list and cross out those on the "Let Go Of" list.
When you've finished, check with yourself whether there's anything else that needs to go in.
Then consider what you want to do with your imaginary boxes - do they need lids? Does the composter need switching on...?...etc...When you feel complete, take a few moments just to breath and enjoy the feeling of freedom and relaxation, before opening your eyes.
From now on, whenever you find you're dwelling on work issues and you don't want to, take a mental peek into your safebox and notice that the issue is safely stowed there, or, alternatively, send it off to the composter!
Notes:
- Some people like to bin their "Let Go Of" lists, however, both lists are useful when looking for patterns and pointers to areas that need attention. See what you feel like doing.
- I've used "boxes" here, but you could visualise any variations on "a safe place to keep things" & "a place where things are broken down". Have a play around and discover what works best for you.
- The more detail you give your "boxes" - colour, size, fastenings etc, the better.
- For a quick "clearout" you can go straight to part 2 of the exercise.
- If you'd like help with this exercise, or related issues, call me on 01506-467970.
Helen Ross-Hamilton
helen@theresultsage
www.theresultsagenc
© Helen Ross-Hamilton, All rights reserved
