Mindfulness with Éva Völgyi

May is Mental Health Awareness Month! This week, we’re spotlighting mindfulness and how our colleague, Éva Völgyi, uses it to boost her mental wellbeing.

Mindfulness 101

Simply put, mindfulness is the practice of being aware of what’s currently happening within and around us moment by moment – it’s the opposite of living life on autopilot. Mindfulness can:

anchor us to the present moment through our five senses (sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell).
help us engage with our thoughts, feelings, and experiences in non-judgmental and accepting ways.
be practiced anywhere while doing anything.

Studies show that regularly practicing mindfulness can reduce stress, increase our ability to focus, make us more resilient, increase happiness and joy, and help us cultivate self-compassion and compassion towards others.

Éva’s Experience with Mindfulness

Éva Völgyi, Human Resources Business Partner, joined L&P four years ago and regularly practices mindfulness at work and beyond. She supports L&P through a mixture of operational and strategic HR initiatives and planning activities, and she’s introduced many of our colleagues to mindfulness.

When and why did you become interested in mindfulness?

I became interested in mindfulness years ago when I realized the impact of stress on my wellbeing. Mindfulness offered a way to manage stress and improve my focus, leading to a more balanced and fulfilling life.

Practicing mindfulness can help us stay present and fully engaged in our activities. It can reduce stress, improve mental clarity, and enhance emotional resilience, making it a valuable practice for both our personal and professional lives.

How do you practice mindfulness at work?

I take regular breaks to reset, practice deep breathing exercises, use mindfulness apps for guided meditation, and stay present during meetings and tasks. This helps me maintain focus and reduce stress throughout the day.

What’s challenging about mindfulness and how do you address it?

One of the challenges is staying consistent, especially when we’re busy. To address this, I set reminders on my phone, schedule regular mindfulness sessions, and try to integrate mindfulness into daily activities – like walking, eating, or exercising.

Where can people go to learn more about mindfulness?

Here are a few helpful links that I’ve shared with colleagues:

Many thanks to Éva for sharing about mindfulness and how it can help our wellbeing!