Burning out is something that many of our clients and candidates worry about. Our stress and tiredness leaves us feeling miserable and sometimes angry, which in turn can affect our health and well-being. We have put together a brief meditation guide for you to try in your own time and hopefully you will see improvements in your professional and/or personal life.

You may be thinking you don’t have enough time to meditate. However, meditation is used to clear the mind and make you more focused on the things that matter. Taking ten to fifteen minutes out of your day to meditate can help you overcome stress and take more control over your life. We will cover two basic steps to beginner’s meditation: posture and breathing.

This meditation exercise is an excellent introduction to meditation techniques:

• Sit or lie comfortably. You may even want to invest in a meditation chair or cushion.

• Close your eyes. 

• Make no effort to control the breath; simply breathe naturally.

• Focus your attention on the breath and on how the body moves with each inhalation and exhalation. Notice the movement of your body as you breathe. Observe your chest, shoulders, rib cage, and belly. Simply focus your attention on your breath without controlling its pace or intensity. If your mind wanders, return your focus back to your breath.

Maintain this meditation practice for two to three minutes to start, and then try it for longer periods. There are many ways you can try and reduce the stresses of the job and meditation is one of the most effective methods out there.

A huge advantage of meditation and mindfulness is that these practices aren’t time-consuming or expensive and don’t require specific equipment. London-based yoga teacher, Kat Achtelik says, “it’s a tool you always have with you, it’s always available and doesn’t cost anything to use. And it’s holistic. It will help you in your private life, too. You’ll learn not to bring issues from home to work, and the other way around.”

Mental health awareness is becoming far more prevalent in the workplace. Many professionals in the Social Care and Social Work sector have already seen the benefits and we would love to hear if meditation has helped you! If you are new to meditation, let us know how you get on and if there are any other beginner guides you would like us to post.