Business Sense: Important to take time out for a breather

8:46am Friday 10th October 2008

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THIS week has been one of those weeks where there has been more to do than I have had the time for, leading to early morning starts, late finishes, and a level of exhaustion that is not healthy.

I imagine it gets like that for you at times too, even with the best of planning.

As a conscientious business, meeting the business need, or the client/customer need, there can be a cost to ourselves and others, often our families.

I also think the quality of my work is at risk when I get over-stretched. Like a taught elastic band I am more likely to “ping”.

The inner voice that chatters away doesn’t help, as it criticises me for getting overcommitted.

One very simple way to minimise the impact is to slow everything down.

I know it is the last thing you may want to do, but rushing from here to there like a headless chicken only makes things worse.

I frequently work from home, so to slow myself down, I took a very basic task – hanging the washing – and did it consciously, focussing on each garment, smoothing them as I hung them.

I breathed deeply and slowly as I worked.

You could do it with reading emails, or as you move between meetings, or go for water, stuffing envelopes, sitting in a meeting, serving a customer. I take about five seconds to breathe in and another five to breathe out.

You could start with three seconds and work up, or find your own pace. Try it now as you read this. Just breathe in slowly to a mental count of five and then again out slowly.

It doesn’t need to be obvious.

Do it five times. Focusing on the breath splits your attention.The mind stills, the body relaxes and you become altogether more accessible and effective. It can be transformational.

The key is to remember.

A note or screen saver that says “breathe”

might do it. Are you noticing the difference?

That took less than a minute. Enjoy your day.

■ Issy Crocker and team are a personal effectiveness, training and coaching organisation based in Darlington. They can be contacted on 01325-363735. For further details, go to issy crocker. co.uk