Tips for Freelancers: How to Catch Zen While Working
Today, the concept of “Zen” is associated exclusively with spiritual practices, although in reality it is a much broader concept. If you interpret it briefly, you get something like "the practice of full awareness of the present."
Most likely, each of us felt it in one way or another. Remember how once you were so passionate about working on a project that you spent half a day or midnight on it, and did not even notice how time flew by. This was the real working Zen. As you can see, it is a very useful process, which brings with it a lot of advantages.
But is it possible to learn how to catch zen every time you sit down at your workplace? Experienced freelancers have some good advice on this.
Clean up your work area.
No matter how much they talk about creative mess in a positive way, but in reality - it interferes and even distracts. When a table is cluttered with different things, it is constantly necessary to spend time searching for something important. This significantly affects the mental state and, in particular, causes stress. And the latter is definitely not a friend of calm immersion in the labor process.
That is why it is better to spend a few minutes putting things in order before starting work, so as not to get distracted and thereby fly off the zen wave.
Relieve pressure of responsibility
When working on voluminous or complex projects, sometimes the thought that we are unable to cope with this task creeps into our heads. This creates a sense of anxiety, which entails a certain stress and depression. Work becomes uncomfortable, because the brain constantly signals that maybe you are not coping.
It is necessary to deal with this state of affairs immediately, without waiting for the emergence of a precarious state. And we need to start with a reason that makes us doubt. Typically, these are:
- strict deadline;
- a large number of tasks per unit of time;
- or self-doubt.
In fact, one must learn to avoid such pressure of responsibility. Learn to “format" thoughts at the stage of their occurrence. Be confident in your abilities, and if you don’t know something, think about where you can find information about it. In the end, ask yourself: what will happen if I postpone the implementation of this project for later? Or even give up on him?
Get rid of distractions
The state of Zen itself means a complete focus on the work process. That is why, in order to tune in to it, it is necessary to minimize the influence of distractions. These include a lot of things. This is a constantly bubbling TV, reminders on the phone from social networks, smoking cigarettes and much more.
Just choose a watch that will be dedicated exclusively to workflows, while remaining inaccessible to phone calls, messages from instant messengers, cigarettes and endless cups of coffee.
Do the work, and only then solve other issues. This approach will significantly increase the number of completed tasks per unit of time.
Stop rushing and slow down
When starting a project, don’t think about the deadline. Do not rush, but rather begin to work in a calm rhythm, focusing on the process. It will seem to many that they will do so less, but in reality everything will turn out exactly the opposite.
This is a purely physiological process. Agree that, for example, playing sports in a calm rhythm is much more effective and useful than an active strain at the limit of possibilities. Slow down and you will be surprised how easy and effortless the work will be done.
Accept and love monotony
Unfortunately, each new project carries with it not only a creative task, but also absolutely routine processes. It is them who want to do the least. And it is very difficult to catch Zen on their implementation, because they initially cause a feeling of depression and rejection.
There is only one way out in this situation, and it is quite obvious. You just need to love the monotony. As the saying goes, accept, accept, and enjoy it.
At first glance, this seems impossible, but psychologists say that right thinking can turn mountains. And here they give an example of athletes who are forced to practice one movement or an element of technology thousands of times. Thus, they are persistently moving to medals and first places.
Methodicality is not bad. This is the path to excellence and outstanding results, because with each practice you will perform routine tasks faster and more efficiently. And how can one not like what you get best?
In the end
The notion of zen itself is a very useful and wise thing. And it is in the labor process that it is very relevant and in demand. After all, work for us is eternal tomorrow.
Tomorrow I will be paid a work fee. Tomorrow I will receive a dream project. Tomorrow I will work more. Tomorrow the client will offer me a raise. And so on ad infinitum.
And you need to learn how to be and work here and now, enjoying every moment of the labor process. Difficult? Without a doubt! But it is possible if there is a desire to enjoy every minute of time.