Mindfulness

Have you ever tried practicing mindfulness? It's the practice of bringing your attention to the present moment and allowing yourself to fully experience and engage with the world around you. It has been shown to have numerous benefits for individuals, including increased focus and productivity, improved relationships, and reduced stress and anxiety. If you're a woman working in tech, mindfulness can be a particularly valuable tool for managing the demands and challenges of your career.

One way in which mindfulness can benefit you is by helping you to manage your stress levels. The tech marketing sector can be fast-paced and full of high-pressure environments, as such it's common to feel overwhelmed and burnt out. Mindfulness can help you to identify and manage your stressors more effectively, providing a sense of calm and clarity in the face of challenges.

Mindfulness can also help you to improve your focus and productivity. By bringing your attention to the present moment, you can more fully engage with your work and avoid distractions. This can help you to complete tasks more efficiently and effectively, which can lead to better results and career advancement.

Another benefit of mindfulness for you is that it can improve your relationships with colleagues and clients. By cultivating a sense of presence and awareness, you can become more attuned to the needs and perspectives of others, which can lead to more effective communication and collaboration. This can be particularly important for women, who may face additional challenges in building and maintaining professional relationships due to biases and stereotypes.

There are many ways to practice mindfulness, and you can choose the methods that work best for you. Some common practices include mindfulness meditation, yoga, and deep breathing exercises. It's important to find a practice that feels comfortable and sustainable, as mindfulness is most effective when it's incorporated into your daily routine.

One leading voice in this field is Gillian Higgins, an international war crimes barrister and meditation guru. Clearly working on international war crimes cases is not for the faint-hearted, so it’s no surprise that someone in that field would need to develop coping mechanisms to deal with stress. Some of the techniques that Gillian recommends include: a scheduled and uninterrupted pause in the working day, mindful commutes where you take time to meditate and mindful meetings where you are relaxed and conscious of your demeanour, surroundings and colleagues. You can read more about Gillian Higgins on her website: gillianhiggins.co.uk.

In conclusion, mindfulness is a valuable tool for women working in tech. It can help you to manage stress, improve focus and productivity, and improve relationships with colleagues and clients. By finding a mindfulness practice that works for you and making it a part of your daily routine, you can enhance your well-being and success in your career.