LIFESTYLE FREE FROM TIME

Despite its capacity for driving us to distraction, our hyper-connected world still has unlimited potential. Tech-innovations have improved quality of life in myriad ways, creating boundless opportunities for entrepreneurs, bringing people and communities together, and revolutionising industries from entertainment to healthcare. But that unlimited potential can bring unlimited pressure, both personally and professionally, and when you’re permanently plugged in, that pressure can build up to a breakdown.

Wellness influencers may talk of giving up gadgets and ‘digital detoxes’, but for the vast majority of us absolute abstinence isn’t possible, or even desirable. Going backwards isn’t an option, and nor should it have to be. It is still possible to manage your relationship with the digital hivemind, develop a relationship with connectivity that isn’t compulsive, and achieve greater balance, presence, and peace in your life – which in turn will lead to sustainable productivity and long-term success.

A common theme running through the work of those concerned with consciousness and productivity is freedom from ‘time-based’ thinking – compulsively reliving the past, obsessively planning the future, and staying in a state of permanent distraction in the present. We often consider this state of mind as being necessary for maximum productivity, but in reality the opposite is true. Research into the habits of remarkable athletes, entrepreneurs and artists has shown that healthy sleep patterns, regular breaks, and exposure to nature are all just as important for productivity as talent and hard work.

We all accept that our bodies can’t function without rest, but our brains also need considerable downtime, aside from sleep, to remain productive, responsive and creative. Just as a multitude of essential physiological phenomena occur when we sleep at night, many important mental processes require downtime during the day – which is why our best problem-solving ideas often come to us in ‘idle’ moments of daydreaming. The brain never actually stops working, even when we do – but it still needs us to rest, so that it can recover, replenish, and reset.

We spend most of our day operating on autopilot, which is essential for our survival and efficiency – if our brains didn’t learn how to do things automatically, we’d have to remember how to brush our teeth every day – but this powerful tendency to fall into the groove of default actions can also reinforce negative behaviour. The opposite of this autopilot mode is mindfulness, and practicing mindfulness techniques daily can interrupt these negative patterns, and create new ones.

Mindfulness is the art of cultivating self-awareness and focusing on the present with purpose. It is a state of observation without judgement – of your thoughts, feelings, body, and surroundings. Like any exercise it requires a specific type of effort, and the mental muscles you use will gradually get stronger, until your state of mind is consistently free from the habits and distractions that cause spirals of mental suffering. In any given moment we can pause and return to a deeper awareness of ourselves as players on the stage of life – even while we’re doing another activity. Cooking, exercising, chairing a meeting – whatever you’re doing, try to be aware of your breathing and your body while you do it. This will help you focus on the task at hand, and perform better.

Here are some more mindfulness tips to help you step into the present…

It’s very hard to get your day back on track if it starts in a hectic, distracted way. Instead of immediately reaching for your phone to check your notifications the moment you wake up, take a few moments to be still, listen to your breathing, and ask yourself what your personal intention for the day is. Everyone can afford to spend a minute or two observing their state of mind, and how their body feels – and even if you can’t, work it into your usual routine – do it while you stand in the shower, or wait for your train. Our ‘autopilot’ mode is often at its strongest while we rush through our morning routine, so interrupt it with a few mindful moments, and you’ll reap the rewards throughout the day.

The term ‘meditation’ refers to a range of exercises and techniques, but essentially it is the practice of physical and psychological stillness with the intention of increasing presence and reducing time-based thinking. The most basic steps in meditation are focusing on the breathing and body, listening to the sounds surrounding you, and making a concerted effort not to identify with the thoughts that arise. Initially you may have to refocus and ‘start again’ over and over, but gradually the sustained effort will mean unwanted thoughts arise far less frequently. The neurological and physiological benefits of meditation are widely documented, but you won’t become a master overnight. Don’t worry if you don’t have much time, or you fail to silence your usual stream of thoughts for more than a moment – you still get wet on a shallow dive.  You don’t need to go it alone, either – there are always tools to help you. The TAG Heuer Connected Wellness app can help you manage your goals, forge a healthier relationship with timekeeping, and enhance your everyday wellbeing.

Journaling is an increasingly popular mindfulness exercise that helps control negative thoughts and emotions. If you find that in the evening your head is often swimming with regrets about today or anxiety about tomorrow, writing things down will help you clear your head of compulsive thoughts, instead of just temporarily suppressing them in order to get to sleep. People often worry that putting their thoughts and emotions into words will make them ‘more real’, but in reality writing things down will help you detach from any negativity, and see the bigger picture. Writing things down draws a line between the past and the future – which helps us remain in the present. Write down the things you’re grateful for in the moment, and what your positive intention for the next day is.

If at first you find it too difficult putting your thoughts into words, read instead. Reading produces many of the same effects in the body and mind as meditation – your thoughts slow down, your heart rate drops, and your focus increases – but it only works with books. Not tweets.

The bad mental habits that distract us from being present in the moment are often reinforced by our own damaging internal narratives – we identify with negative emotions, or tell ourselves that we ‘deserve’ to feel that way. Every so often it’s important to take stock of our psychological inventory, and get rid of ideas about ourselves that no longer lead to growth. When you’re uncertain about something or make a mistake, take a few moments to consider how you speak to yourself. What is your inner critic saying? Are they supportive, or hypercritical? Notice the judgements you make about your own character, and choose to practise self-forgiveness instead.

Incorporating even just one of these tools into your daily routine will lead to immediate results, and with each effort the rewards will increase until being present in the moment and practicing mindfulness become second nature. Remember that the most common external barrier to mindfulness is the societal pressure to be productive at all times – so shut out the noise, listen to your body, and tell yourself that you deserve a calmer and happier state of mind. In the long run, you’ll be all the more productive – but remember, it’ll take time.