By slogging away at work, trying to cross off everything on an infinitely endless to-do list, are we really enriched by our work in the world? We lose ourselves in our doing. We create stress and lose access to the present, which is where we find our creativity, wisdom and intuition.   Learn more about Kristen Manieri and coaching: Kristen@kristenmanieri.com KristenManieri.com   Host Bio Kristen Manieri is a coach who works with teams to increase both productivity and wellbeing. She also helps individuals navigate transition with clarity and confidence. Her areas of focus are: stress reduction, energy management, mindset, resilience, habit formation, rest rituals, and self-care. As the host of the weekly 60 Mindful Minutes podcast, an Apple top 100 social science podcast, Kristen has interviewed over 200 authors about what it means to live a more conscious, connected, intentional and joyful life. Learn more at kristenmanieri.com/work-with-me.    Coaching I have two coaching spots opening up this fall. If you’ve ever considered coaching, or if you’re feelings stuck or you’re about to make a big transition, reach out to me and we can talk about how I can help you navigate what’s ahead with more confidence and clarity. You can reach me at Kristen@kristenmanieri.com.   Full Transcript   Our work and the jobs we do in the world are fertile ground for discontent. For those of us who meet Monday morning with a sense of gloom, even dread, our work life can be a source of angst, disappointment, stress and dissatisfaction. And yet, we each will spend about a third of our lives working. Yes, it’s true not all of us do what we love for a living, but we owe it to ourselves to feel satisfied and not simply endure decades of work in order to get to retirement when we can “really start living.” There’s no such thing as a happiness layaway plan; we are meant to feel happy and fulfilled today.   In our pursuit of a more mindful life, we place as much emphasis, maybe even more, on how we do what we do versus what we do or the results we produce. Who we are being while we do our work impacts not only how we feel, but also how we make others feel.   These days, it seems as though the point to work is to get as much done as possible and make as much money as possible. What gets lost in that equation is the real point to work: to have our lives be enriched by the contribution we make in the world.   By slogging away at work, trying to cross off everything on an infinitely endless to-do list, are we really enriched by our work in the world? We lose ourselves in our doing. We create stress and lose access to the present, which is where we find our creativity, wisdom and intuition.   In a relaxed, open and mindful state, we regulate ourselves, we see more clearly, we better prioritize, and we relate to others with more patience, humility and kindness. Conversely, in our mindlessness, we weaken our ability to manage ourselves, consumed instead with managing tasks, deadlines, outcomes and other people.   This is why mindful work pauses, thoughtfully punctuated between our tasks, are critical if we are to cultivate more awareness and ease at work. A pause could be just a few moments, such as a mini-break between tasks, or it can be a quiet lunch or a walk around the block.   Mini-Pauses   Using a tool such as a timer, smartphone reminder, calendar alert or hourly chime, you can create an invitation to pause periodically throughout your day. Upon hearing the prompt, stop what you’re doing, take a few mindful breaths, and ask yourself these questions: How do I feel? What could I shift? What is my state? Who am I being in this moment?   A few words of warning: It’s easy to grow immune to reminder prompts. As you build your anchor for this pausing habit, aim to switch it up from week to week. Otherwise, you may find yourself ignoring your cue.   Schedule Pauses   You can also schedule pauses in your day, or what I call buffers, between tasks and meetings. L