- Mindfulness

Can Mindfulness Help Entrepreneurs?

Strange Bedfellows -Mindfulness and Entrepreneurs?

You Be The Judge…

As an online marketer or entrepreneur, the opportunity to work outside the typical “9 to 5” is most appealing.

But, many of us chose to be entrepreneurs – online and offline – for a variety of reasons.

I chose this lifestyle so that I have the freedom to set my own goals, reach unrestricted heights, control my working hours and days, do what fuels me (running and volunteering), and, of course, determine my income.

Having said, all that, entrepreneurs often work long hours which impacts our sleep, most times leaving us exhausted, and energy-deprived.

Productive And Meaningful

In the past, I found that in the morning after eight hours of sleeping, I often woke up feeling exhausted, lethargic, and tired, despite being diagnosed with sleep apnea and prescribed the use of a CPAP machine.

These days, when I wake in the morning, I feel refreshed, ready to tackle anything that may come my way that day.

Why the change?

I believe that it was only after I started the practice of mindfulness, I’ve been waking up fully rested.

Of course, many would say it could be a result of the combination of the CPAP machine and my mindful lifestyle.

But, it’s not something I’m going to challenge, all I know is my days have become more productive and meaningful since I added this new tool – MINDFULNESS – to my life.

Remember, mindfulness is living each moment to its fullest, being aware of one’s experience without judgment.

A study published in the Journal of Business Venturing claims that practicing mindfulness exercises for as little as ten minutes a day could have the same benefits like an additional 44 minutes of sleep a night.

“You can’t replace sleep with mindfulness exercises, but they might help compensate and provide a degree of relief,” said Charles Murnieks, lead author and Assistant Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship in the College of Business at Oregon State University with expertise in Cognitive Psychology, Emotion, and Applied Psychology.

Two experiments with entrepreneurs, who they defined as people running their own business ventures, were conducted by Murnieks and his team.

More than 40% of participants said they worked 50 hours or more each week and on average slept less than six hours a night.

Those who slept the most or engaged in the highest levels of mindfulness had the lowest levels of exhaustion.

In a second experiment of 329 participants, the researchers asked the same questions and found that their initial findings were confirmed: mindfulness can assuage feelings of exhaustion.

Mindfulness does have its limitations, Murnieks acknowledged, “If you’re feeling stressed and not sleeping, you can compensate with mindfulness exercises to a point.”

“But when you’re not low on sleep, mindfulness doesn’t improve those feelings of exhaustion.”

Murnieks added, that it may help provide some relief during particularly taxing periods.

More research is needed to better understand how mindfulness exercises may help weary entrepreneurs and the limits of those beneficial effects, Murnieks said, but there is an indication mindfulness can provide a boost.

“There are times when you’re launching a new venture that you’re going to have to surge,” he said. “Mindfulness exercises may be one way to provide some relief during those tough stretches.”

What’s your verdict?

“It feels good. Kinda like when you have to shut your computer down, just sometimes when it goes crazy, you just shut it down and when you turn it on, it’s okay again. That’s what meditation is to me.” – Ellen DeGeneres

Meditation is a habit that may come easily to some. I have been meditating for over five years, but there were many days I found myself slipping. These days, not so much, not since I’ve printed out and put on my vision board over  my desk these Positive Mindset graphics from Alice Seba at Publish for Prosperity.  You can get these graphics at no cost here.

If you’re interested in revitalizing your life through meditation and would like to learn a virtually risk-free, and cost-effective practice, that people of all ages can do with a little patience and guidance and that will serve you for the rest of your life, I would love to connect with you. You can connect with me here.

I’m Donna SLam, who loves to blog about how meditation brings self-compassion, peace of mind, and clarity to my life and others by sharing tips and strategies on how to live a fulling and purposeful life. I enjoy championing others to lead a healthy and happy life through meditation, walking, self-development, and spending time with loved ones.

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