Do Computer Meditation

Sitting in front of a computer all day for work is hard on your mind and body. It can leave you feeling mentally drained and physically sore. Through daily meditation, it is possible to increase your productivity, enhance your creativity, and reduce your stress at work. With regular stretching breaks, you can recharge your mind and release the muscular tension that accompanies your job.

Steps

Meditating at Work

  1. Make time to meditate at work. When practiced daily, meditation can reduce your stress and anxiety, increase your focus and productivity, and improve your general well-being. When practiced in the workplace, meditation provides the same benefits. It can help you to relax, enhance your effectiveness as an employee, and improve your overall on-site experience. To reap these perks, set aside time to meditate each day:
    • Meditate during your lunch hour. The midday mental break will rejuvenate your mind.
    • Meditate at the end of your work day. Concluding your workday with a brief meditation session will enforce the boundary between your work life and your social/home life.
    • Meditate whenever you feel stressed or anxious. Taking a break from your busy schedule can actually help you overcome the feeling that you have too much to do.[1]
  2. Find a quiet spot, if possible. While some workplaces have designated meditation spaces, many business do not. Do your best to find a quiet, comfortable, private location to practice your meditation. If you must remain in your cubicle or office, you can take the following steps to minimize the distractions:
    • Close your door and dim the lights.
    • Take your desk phone off the hook.
    • Turn off your cell phone.
    • Put your computer in sleep mode.
    • Wear earplugs or headphones.[2]
  3. Sit in a comfortable position and close your eyes. Take a seat in a comfortable chair. Place your feet firmly on the ground, rest your hands on your knees, sit up straight, and lift your chin. As you focus on an object in front of you, take several deep breaths. Gradually soften your gaze and close your eyes.[3]
  4. Focus on your breathing and body. As you concentrate on your breathing, listen to your heartbeat. Do not control your breath, just breathe naturally. Note how your body moves with every inhale and exhale.
    • How do your ribs move?
    • When do your shoulders rise?
    • How does your belly rise and fall?[4]
  5. Acknowledge your thoughts and let them go. As you meditate, thoughts will enter your mind. Instead of fixating on these thoughts, acknowledge that they exist and choose to let them exit your mind. Return your focus to your breathing.
    • Do not judge or assess your thoughts.
    • As you practice, you may begin to notice a pattern in your thoughts.[3]
  6. Return to a state of awareness. Gradually return your attention to the present. Before opening your eyes, take several deep breaths. Instead of immediately returning to work, remain seated for a moment and take time to assess how the meditation made you feel.
    • You may choose to end your meditation session at any time. As you continue to practice, your sessions will get longer.[5]

Meditating on the Computer

  1. View your computer as an object of meditation. While practicing mindfulness meditation, practitioners are urged to observe their thoughts, acknowledge their feelings, and then allow them to pass. They are not supposed to judge or fixate on their thoughts. Practitioners are now applying this meditation technique to their work on the computer. This requires you to disengage from work and take a moment to observe and acknowledge the letters, spaces, images, and thoughts displayed on the screen.[6]
  2. Assess your thoughts and feelings. Pause from your work for a brief mindfulness meditation session. Slide your chair back, close your eyes, and or slow your breathing. Ask yourself the following questions and take a mental note of your responses:
    • ”What do I feel in this moment?”
    • ”What am I thinking about in this moment?”
    • ”How am I present in this moment?”
    • ”How am I not present in this moment?”[6]
  3. Observe the computer screen for 2 to 3 minutes. Once you are aware of your own thoughts and feelings, turn your attention to the computer screen. The goal of this exercise is to use the computer to transport yourself into a state of calmness, relaxation, and mindfulness that will then carry over to the rest of your workday. As you practice:
    • Take note of the letters in a word, the sentences in a paragraph, and the thoughts they are conveying.
    • Acknowledge the icons on your desktop, the empty spaces on an open web page, and the cursor in the corner of your screen.
    • If your mind wanders, return your attention to the screen.
    • Gradually regain your awareness and return to work feeling refreshed and refocused. [7]

Taking a Mini-Break from the Computer

  1. Take a series of deep breaths to relieve stress. If you don’t have an appropriate meditation space, you can use deep breathing exercises to enter into a state of mindfulness and relaxation. During a long day at work, deep breathing exercises can help you to recharge and refocus.
    • Take a seat in a chair or on the floor.
    • Take a deep inhale through your nose for 4 counts (Inhale, 2, 3, 4).
    • Hold your breath for 4 counts (Hold, 2, 3, 4).
    • Exhale through your nose for 4 counts (Exhale, 2, 3, 4).
    • Hold your breath for 4 counts (Hold, 2, 3, 4).
    • Repeat this series 10 times.
  2. Stretch your neck and shoulders to release tension. After sitting in front of a computer all day, your body may become tense, knotted, and sore. Stretching your tired muscles is an excellent way to release tension, refresh your mind, and take a short break from the computer. The shoulder stretch is work appropriate. It will help to relax your neck and shoulders.To execute the shoulder stretch:
    • Interlace your fingers, lift your arms above your head, and place your palms up.
    • Hold the stretch for 5 deep breaths, breathing in and out through your nose.
    • Release the stretch and roll your shoulders.
    • Repeat the stretch again.
    • As you stretch, focus on your posture: look straight ahead, align your arms with your ears, and relax your shoulder blades.[8]
  3. Stretch your chest to relax your muscles. Sitting in front of a screen all day can wreak havoc on your posture. You may slouch and slump your shoulders. To counteract the negative side effects of this poor computer posture, your can execute a heart opener stretch. In addition to releasing tension, this stretch provides you with an opportunity to step away from your computer and refocus your mind.
    • Stand with your feet hip-distance apart.
    • Move your arms and hands behind you.
    • Clasp your hands together to form a fist at the base of your back.
    • Look forward, pinch your shoulder blades together, and elevate your hands and arms as high as you can.
    • Hold this stretch for five deep breaths, breathing in and out through your nose.
    • Repeat if desired.[8]



Tips

  • The essence of spirituality is to build up inner strength, peace, love and happiness. Your inner energy can be awakened by positive visualizations in connection with mantras (positive statements, prayers).
  • Inner peace arises if you put your mind to rest. For this purpose, first use the mantra "Aum Shanti. Aum Peace." Focus only on peaceful thoughts

Warnings

  • On the spiritual path, you're only successful if you always act in close connection with your personal truth and with good feelings for yourself. Practice the computer meditation therefore so that it fits for you personally and is good for you.

Things You'll Need

  • Computer
  • Seat

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Sources and Citations