Mindfulness suggests that the mind is fully attending to what’s really happening, but in the middle of chaos, how can you really apply the principles of it to your everyday-life?

Most people probably do not associate business with mindfulness. But the idea of mindfulness in an office or professional setting has gained some traction recently.

Encouraging employees to practice mindfulness throughout the day, or even bringing in an external expert to help guide the office through mindful practices can be particularly beneficial.

Mindfulness may seem like a great idea, but how do you become more mindful in the context of a busy work day? You may have emails, phone calls, meetings and presentations to deal with. And, of course, your own stuff. In the middle of that chaos how can you apply the principles of mindfulness so that you feel more alive and present, as well as being productive?

How does it work?

Mindfulness essentially means moment-to-moment awareness. Although it originated in the Buddhist tradition, you don’t have to be Buddhist to reap its benefits. This description explains the basic philosophy:

“When you are mindful…You become keenly aware of yourself and your surroundings, but you simply observe these things as they are. You are aware of your own thoughts and feelings, but you do not react to them in the way that you would if you were on ‘autopilot’… By not labeling or judging the events and circumstances taking place around you, you are freed from your normal tendency to react to them.”