Unplug – Become Present
Presence – such a simple act, but not so easy to do. It’s a matter of finding peace and space. Often our minds are so active mentally reviewing our last phone call and planning our next meeting, that being present in mind, body, and soul becomes a concentration exercise. Reflecting on my many work experiences, there was only one that supported and practiced a daily routine of being quiet. It was 30 years ago and I was the program director at a children’s summer camp. Each morning before breakfast, 15 minutes was scheduled for quiet time, prayer or bible study. There is no way of knowing now whether this daily practice influenced the harmonious activities of the day or not, but even today I marvel at the level of collaboration, creativity and innovation that occurred.
Sometimes a ten-minute break of solitude or silence can have remarkable results. Two news items caught my attention awhile back. The first was an article in the February 21, 2008 issue of MACLEAN’S magazine. The article is titled SSHH: MEN AT WORK and profiles a six-month pilot project by Intel dubbed “Quiet Time”. Every Tuesday morning 300 engineers and managers shut out all distractions. No emailing, no phone calls, no appointments, and “do not disturb” sign are displayed on office doors. The point being, Intel believes their workers are so overwhelmed with emails, voice mail, phone calls etc… there’s no time to reflect and contemplate. The article uses Sir Isaac Newton as an example of one who discovered the law of gravity because he had time to sit and contemplate (under an apple tree). Several other interesting thoughts are shared such as: creativity is killed when under the gun; information overload is driving people to distraction; and workers show signs of culturally induced attention deficit disorder. The article suggests that other organizations are considering a similar program.
The second news item appeared in the February 1, 2008 issue of the Victoria Times Columnist. The article is titled Burned-out bureaucrats brood over ‘BlackBerry blackout’ and talks about Richard Fadden, deputy minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada efforts to limit the use of the BlackBerry by his staff. His intent is to reduce employee stress related to the bombardment of emails and to help bureaucrats balance work and family life. Fadden’s request to staff was to bar the use of the Blackberry in meetings, between 7:00 pm and 7:00 am, on weekends and holidays.
Although the tide is slow to turn, there appears to be an increasing wave of individuals / organization interested in fostering greater presence through a variety of means. Some may meditate, go for long walks, or pray, while others may sit quietly in reflection, practice yoga, or tai chi.
Learning to balance life for entrepreneurial moms is a battle. I now make an effort to meditate for least 10 minutes every morning. Interestingly enough, I’ve noted that on the odd morning that I have missed, the events of the day don’t run as smoothly.