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WATCHFULNESS IS AN ATTITUDE

By: Teresa R. Tunay, OCDS

Watchfulness not only at work but in anything we do can never be overemphasized. We know we have to keep watch, to be alert and vigilant at all times, but we are not always successful at it, no matter how often we are reminded to be so. Part of the reason we fail is: distractions. And distractions at work are many. The cell phone, for example, is one – text messages coming in sporadically can destroy our focus. Chatter from pesky officemates is another; so are visitors who drop in without notice. Even well-meaning celebrations can be a distraction – a birthday celebrant coming in with a slice of cake has to be acknowledged, greeted and thanked, at least. Music from the next working station or cubicle can also prevent us from concentrating on our tasks. Pop-ups while we’re researching and surfing the net are also irritating disruptions at work. We can’t work in a vacuum; we need our senses to work but our very senses are under attack from these distractions. So what do we do?

Watchfulness is not just focusing on the task at hand, or being attentive on task-to-task basis. Part of being watchful is nurturing in ourselves the attitude of watchfulness, and developing skills that will support this attitude so that it can help us concretely and effectively. For instance, devoting a few minutes each day to breathing exercises, observing the rhythm of our breathing as we inhale and exhale, can already significantly increase our ability to focus. As we become more proficient in this quieting down exercise, we will discover that we are not only getting better at focusing on a certain task but also becoming more creative in performing them.