DEVELOPMENT
“ Think of the brain like a computer . Occasionally it needs to shut down , update and switch back on to help it perform to its best .”
critical than ever for EAs to look introspectively – do I have the correct tools and techniques to help manage a change in the way I work ? Do I have the right mindset to be able to focus ? Be more productive ? Cope with stress ? Prevent overwhelm ? Do I understand how to shut down all the tabs in my brain , and give myself a chance to relax and refresh ?
Turning chaos into calm
In a busy , digital world which seems to never switch off , EAs are contactable 24 / 7 , leading to blurred lines between work and play – but this needn ’ t be the case , says Sabina Vitacca
THE EXPERT
Sabina is the founder and developer of the Meditate Now 1:1 Corporate Mindfulness model and has made meditation an integral part of her life and career . Over the last 10 years , she has helped 100s of professionals become more present in their day-to-day life through her workshops and one-on-one Meditate Now program .
The pandemic has only served to exacerbate the challenges of blurred work / play lines for employees . As many EAs will know , working from home has become the ‘ norm ’ and the office commute has become a short walk under the same roof . Laptops are always open , phones always on , emails always pinging – not to mention the fact that chunks of time have been regained from the lack of commute for many .
The new way Life has become busier , largely because tech has made people more accessible and the instant gratification from responses has become expected . You ’ re always on – especially at the top of organisations . Executives have needed to strategise and pivot throughout challenging times , ably supported throughout by EAs who ’ ve kept projects on track and juggled even more balls in the air than usual .
Many of you will have needed to upskill in certain tasks to remain relevant and keep pace with the tidal flow of changes . You ’ ll have had to match the change of pace in the way the digital world works , too . And it ’ s come more
Time to disconnect Amongst the chaos , what ’ s critical is for those at the heart of the busyness – you , the high-level assistant – to be able to disconnect from the chaos and learn how to manage the enormous workload and stress . This is where mindfulness for business can play an enormous positive role . Not only does it help upgrade a person ’ s ability to perform better but it helps reset any negative thought patterns or behaviours that hinder , rather than help , progress .
Think of the brain like a computer . Occasionally it needs to shut down , update and switch back on to help it perform to its best . This is especially true in the heat of the moment , when a meeting hasn ’ t gone well or the to do list has exploded .
Some quick and simple tactics Here are a few simple meditations busy EAs can do to quickly reset in the moment : w Take a ‘ mini-mind nap ’, a short guided meditation designed to fit in between meetings or when a quick moment is needed to reduce stress . w A guided meditation for those moments of total overwhelm – some are only six minutes ! At times like these , you might feel as though you don ’ t even have two minutes but it will be worth it . You ’ ll reset , calm your brain out of fight or flight mode and be after to perform better afterwards . w Meditation while box breathing . A technique used by the military to help prevent stress , this will teach you how to breathe properly and it ’ ll calm and soothe the brain . It ’ s an effective method to bring calm to the moment .
How are you planning on disconnecting from the stress ? Maybe turning your chaos into calm should be the next step … S meditatenow . com . au
60 Executive PA | Autumn Issue 2022