By Pat Ingelse, Assistant Vice President, PMP

We’ve talked a bit about mindfulness and what it’s all about — above all, being aware and awake rather than functioning without focus. When you are consciously present at work, you are aware of two areas of your moment-to-moment experience: what’s going on around you and what’s going on within you. That helps you be present in what you’re doing, while you’re doing it, as well as manage your emotional state.

Here are a few ideas to bring mindfulness to your day that will help you feel more present and productive.

Be consciously present Make a clear decision at the start of your day to be present as best you can. Take a moment before your workday starts to set this intention in your mind.

Be a single-tasker Do one thing at a time. Multitasking is trying to do two or more tasks at the same time or switching back and forth between them. While you may feel you are more productive, you really aren’t. In reality, your brain is madly switching from one thing to another, often losing data in the process. Kick that habit and become a mindfulness superhero!

Use reminders The term “mindful” means to remember. Most folks who’ve read about mindfulness appreciate the benefits of mindful living. Unfortunately, they keep forgetting to be mindful! The reason is that your brain’s default mode is to be habitually lost in your own thoughts. Being on autopilot means you aren’t fully present to the choices around you. Set an alarm on your phone — perhaps a silent one you can see go off, so it doesn’t disturb those around you. Every time the alarm goes off, take a mindful break. Just pause and be aware of your surroundings, rather than immediately reacting to whatever is front of you. These are chances to come back to the present moment and see things with a fresh eye.

Feel gratitude We tend to focus more easily on something that’s gone wrong than on things that go well. Constantly doing this means that you ultimately adopt an overly negative way of thinking. Gratitude is the antidote. Evidence suggests that practicing gratitude makes you feel better and has a positive impact on your creativity, health, and work relationships. Gratitude makes being at both work and home more positive experiences.

Give these a try and see what a difference they make in your day.