The Importance of Mindfulness in Data Entry
Data entry is fast becoming a lucrative field of employment. While not necessarily the most glamorous job in the world, data entry is still a vital job in any field. There are all kinds of data entry jobs on the market, from working as an independent contractor and entering data for different companies, to being the data entry personnel in a general company, to being full-time data entry staff at a company that specializes in data management. The skills required are quite specific, and people that have the right skills can excel in data entry. People who can excel at data entry are also likely to enjoy doing data entry, and take satisfaction in seeing the work completed. The skill set for people who enter data is small but specific, with mindfulness playing a key role.
What is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness is, in a general sense, being present and attentive to the task at hand. When we are mindful, we are aware of what we are doing and what is going on around us. Mindfulness involves paying attention. Mindfulness actually means to not be caught up in the mind, rather, to be caught up in the experience. Our minds can charge around with thoughts, worries, anxieties and other distractions; being mindful is a practice of stepping away from this racing mind and into awareness of what we are doing at any given moment.
Why is it Important to Data Entry?
Data entry personnel would do well to practice mindfulness in their work. Data entry is, in almost all cases, a tedious and repetitive task. Generally, human beings faced with repetitive tasks have a tendency to stop thinking and turn on auto-pilot rather than paying attention to the work. It takes a certain level of energy and brain power to remain mindful when entering data.
The most obvious benefit to entering data mindfully is the improvement of accuracy and lessening of the rate of mistakes, however large or small. Mindfulness while entering data can also contribute to the work being done faster.
How to be Mindful while Entering Data
If you have been into data entry for a long time and have your patterns and systems, beginning to practice mindfulness may involve a bit of a learning curve. Humans are creatures of habit and we attach to patterns, however good or bad for us. However, patterns can be unlearned and new patterns can be picked up.
Adding a mindfulness practice to your life will contribute to your skillset as data entry personnel, which could lead to advancing your career. A simple mindfulness practice to do outside of work is a short meditation each day. While at work, try to deliberately slowdown every once in a while and pay close attention to the data you are entering. Over time, this practice will contribute to your work becoming more accurate and you will find you are turning out more of it at a greater pace.
Data entry is becoming a competitive field for personnel. All manner of company need their data entered, whether in-house, outsourced to a data management company, or done by a private data entry contractor. Being mindful and attentive will put you in the lead for getting those contracts and doing the best work you can in the field.
– Data Czar @ DEO
