Before disconnecting for the summer, make plans to improve next semester’s workspace.
And there it goes, another school year fading in the rearview mirror. As we prepare to shift gears, we can pause and reflect (reflection is a favorite practice in Adventure Education) on our past work. Anticipating a few months away can inspire us to explore how we are supported and challenged during our workday.
Before slathering on the sunscreen and heading for wild places, let’s take a minute to reflect and consider:
How do I start my workday? We know emails will wait until after a shower, and texts will last longer than it takes to drink a mocha, but many of us pick up our devices first and start the day in reactive mode. If our usual morning routine leaves us feeling like we’re behind before we’ve even started, then perhaps meditating, working out, journaling, or being with people we care about (no mobile devices allowed) would be a more beneficial way to kick things off.
Am I physically comfortable in my workspace? Our bodies provide a constant stream of information (think five senses, always engaged), though our minds primarily filter it out as we focus on being productive. Read this sentence, look up from the screen, take a deep breath, and see if you feel tension, discomfort, or pressure anywhere in/on your body. What’s causing it? Are you slouching? Reaching? Do you lean too far forward or back? Is there excessive noise or commotion around you? Being comfortable leads to clarity, creative energy, and focus; craft your workspaces to support your well-being rather than taking a rinse-and-repeat approach.
Will I get any sort of exercise today? While a summer of chilling on patios, lounging in meadows, and napping on the shore sounds exactly right, we know being sedentary for too long is not a win. From vigorous workouts to just incorporating a walk into our days, the holistic benefits of movement are endless and well-documented. Just do something!
Will I interact with people who inspire me? As we wander through time off, we often find ourselves hanging out with wonderful, interesting folks. Like a magnet polarizing a pin, when we rub up against (ok, not really, but you know what I mean) positive people, we feel better. And, you guessed it, the same is true of stressed, grouchy, perpetually mean people. Make sure to spend time with inspirational folks.
Am I mindful or mind full? Vacation time allows us to leave behind our daily grind and drop into the wonderful present. In these moments, we might find ourselves being mindful. There are plenty of definitions for mindfulness, so we will keep it simple: mindfulness is the practice of paying attention to the present, each moment, without judgment or attachment. While peddling the paths of routine, we’re often blinded by past impressions, immediate reactions, old emotions, and many expectations (just ask your inner voice). Instead, we can make an effort to experience our lives as they happen rather than continually reenacting other times.
The time is now; take a moment to reflect on how you interact with your work landscape and make any changes you find necessary to create a healthier space. We can only improve our situations when we thoughtfully consider how to work smarter.
Shostak is a senior lecturer of adventure education at 麻豆免费高清无砖码区with expertise in mindfulness, leadership, risk management, expedition design, and delivery, as well as tons of experience leading others in finding the inter- and intrapersonal benefits of exploring wild spaces.