This is a meditation on productivity to listen to at the end of your busy day to help you transition out of that task-focused part of your day to the next part of your day or evening,
Such as to sit down for a meal,
Relax with friends or family,
Or go to sleep.
Even saying the following things to yourself.
Today was another busy day in my life.
I set out to do many things and I completed some of those things but not others.
That is a normal part of life.
Even if I didn't complete many tasks that I set out to do,
That is not a reflection on who I am or how good or bad I am as a person.
It's merely a fact that I accomplished what I accomplished and that I didn't accomplish what I didn't accomplish.
I tried my best and many unforeseen circumstances arose during the day.
Demands were placed on me that I didn't expect.
There were circumstances outside my control.
My priorities changed and shifted throughout the day based on my best judgment.
I couldn't predict how the day would unfold and I did my best to do everything that I wanted to do or felt I needed to do or that other people asked of me.
My merit and worth as a person aren't based on how many tasks I accomplished or how many items I checked off on my to-do list today.
Right now,
I notice my mind generating thoughts about what I haven't completed.
I feel some worry and anxiety about having those tasks undone.
I feel that I've let myself and other people down but instead of being sucked into those thoughts and feelings,
Instead right now I will choose to notice those thoughts as thoughts.
I will notice those feelings as feelings.
I will observe them from a distance instead of being wrapped up in them.
I will pay attention to them respectfully and acknowledge that those thoughts and feelings are real and then let them pass.
I'll watch them pass and fade away as thoughts and feelings are apt to do when I don't let myself become wrapped up in them.
I will recognize that this is just what the mind and body do.
They generate thoughts,
Sensations,
And emotions and I have the capacity to step back from them and to observe them at a distance without identifying with them,
Knowing that I may have thoughts and bodily sensations and emotions but that I am not myself any of those things.
The same is true of any thoughts,
Sensations,
Or feelings that may be arising in me now with respect to tomorrow,
The things that I'm planning to do or want to do or feel that I need to do tomorrow.
If I notice now any thoughts arising about tomorrow and my to-do list,
Thoughts of planning,
Feelings of anxiety,
Stress,
Or worry,
I'll step back,
Perhaps labeling those thoughts as planning or whatever they might be and just observe the fact that they are occurring without being wrapped up in them.
If I feel myself becoming wrapped up in any of these things right now,
I will consciously pause,
Slow and deepen my breath,
Take a long inhale and a long exhale and focus my attention on my breath.
Notice the air flowing into and out of my body.
I'll take these deep breaths and focus my attention on them for as long as it takes to feel some of those sensations and feelings related to the tasks in my life to fade.
I can pause this recording if I need to take that extra time to take those breaths and by taking this distance and observing my mind and body's focus on tasks and what I need to do,
I help myself to transition into the next phase of my day or into sleep so that I can become fully engaged in that next part of my day or fully engaged in the sleep that I need.
I'll make a transition like walking through a doorway from the task-focused,
Activity-focused,
Doing-focused part of my day into the next chapter,
Whether that be eating a meal,
Spending time with friends or family or alone,
Or taking a good,
Long,
Restful night of sleep.
I am shifting my attention to that next phase so that I can be fully in it,
Moving on from the tasks of the day and knowing and taking some comfort in the fact that tomorrow will be a new day.
There will be opportunities to start again afresh and to focus on tasks then,
But not now.
I thank my mind and my body for everything they've done for me during the day,
For helping me to do everything that I had to do and chose to do.
I thank them for helping me to accomplish my goals and I ask my mind and my body gently to take care of themselves by shifting away for this next period of time from tasks and from doing things into being in a different state,
Not focused on completing tasks,
At least until the next day begins.
I end this meditation by taking one more long,
Deep breath,
A long inhale,
Feeling the air enter my body deeply and slowly,
Pausing slightly after the inhale,
Paying attention to the air in my body and then letting the air on its own release from my body as I pay attention to the full exhale,
The air releasing out of my body.
And I take as many of these deep breaths as I need to feel that this meditation is complete and that I've made that transition through the doorway to the next stage of my day or night.
I hope you found this meditation helpful and that you return to this meditation at the end of your day tomorrow.
