Even when your mind is fretful and unruly, try practising mindfulness
A sustained mindfulness practice produces statistically significant improvements in leadership capacities. But if you want the benefits, you have to put in the time to practise. It can be hard, but if you want to develop a formal mindfulness practice, you should try the following steps. • Make a schedule: Think carefully about when you are most likely and able to practise, and then fit 10 minutes into your daily routine so that over time it becomes a habit. First thing in the morning works best for many. Listening to an audio exercise on your commute is popular and seems to set up the day well. Others find that the only time they can commit to is just before bed. • Be realistic: Set realistic expectations for your practice; expect your experience with developing a new habit to be turbulent. Mindfulness is not about getting rid of all thoughts — it is about noticing what thoughts are there. Don’t be surprised if some days your mind is busy, fretful or even wildly unruly. When this is...
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