REactive vs. PROactive: How Yoga + Meditation Can Help

The holidays are upon us! End of the year deadlines combined with family parties and employee gift exchanges truly test our ability to stay focused at work. Unfold is thrilled to see more executives and professionals turning to meditation to help manage the stress of work life. In fact, former lawyer, Ben Turshen, is now a dedicated meditation instructor. We love this article from well + GOOD that discusses vedic meditation, a simple technique that can be practiced anywhere, anytime.

In addition to better sleep, increased focus, and even a more enjoyable experience at the gym, this article points out that a regular meditation practice teaches us to be less reactive in stressful situations. The less reactive we are, the more aware we’re able to be of how we actually feel. When we know how we’re feeling, we’re able to communicate with more clarity.

With almost two decades of combined corporate experience, Unfold knows that working professionals are always trying to communicate better. Clear communication is simply a recipe for good business. Quality communication promotes teamwork, innovation, and positivity. People feel heard, understood, and valued.

So, the next time you get an annoyingly passive email, or an aggressively toned voicemail, pause, close your eyes, and breathe in and out of your nose. Notice how your breath feels as it moves in and out of your body. See if you can bring your breath deeper into your belly. For one minute, aim to sit and breathe with a sense of ease.

Maybe, over time, some of those old unproductive reactionary habits will start to occur less frequently. Instead of firing back an email, or picking up the phone with the intent to be angry, you may start to find that giving your “reactive self” a bit of space might open up the door for you to be less REactive, and more PROactive. Perhaps this newly found clarity can be aimed towards creativity, productivity, and joyful work, instead of frustration and exhaustion.

If you enjoyed this post and want more, get our free 10-Minute Tune-Up Trio, a mini video series to help you quickly reduce stress, improve posture, and alleviate the discomforts associated with computer work and daily living. Get the trio here.