Between competing priorities and pressing deadlines, the work environment can be fraught with stressors. In keeping stress to a minimum, many companies are turning to the calming effect of mindfulness. Through present thoughtfulness and meditation, the practice of mindfulness helps employees take much-needed moments during their day to destress, unplug, and refocus their energy and mindset to positive pursuits.
Research has shown that mindfulness can have a real impact on employees and their work. A Harvard study found that mindfulness changes our brain structure for the better by allowing us to alter the way we react, shifting away from impulses and using other brain functions to act with purpose and intention.
Adopting a mindfulness program at your workplace can enable employees to:
The benefits of mindfulness at work are many for both employees and your business. Even better news, introducing mindfulness to your staff is easy, affordable, and packs a hefty return on investment.
Fortunately, mindfulness is meant to be a flexible exercise, meaning you can practice it en route to work while driving, in between meetings, and at your desk. For example, here’s a free 7-minute mindfulness exercise you can listen to at any time.
To garner the best results, invite employees to participate in mindfulness in multiple ways. These ideas can help you get started.
Does your company culture promote self-care? If vacations are frowned upon, and managers routinely dole out weekend assignments, your company’s attempt at making mindfulness successful will appear half-hearted and insincere. As you seek to invest in employees’ wellness, take a holistic view of your company policies and practices to see where you can improve work-life balance, and elevate the environment your employees work in every day.
Because most people at your work will have a beginner status when it comes to meditation, the professional should begin with a short introduction to mindfulness and share best practices on breathing, poses, and focusing the mind. The actual mindfulness exercises can last as little as 15 minutes.
Following the meeting, send employees a survey to gauge their satisfaction with the session and interest in continuing to learn how to practice mindfulness at work. This will give you an idea of how you can most effectively invest in mindfulness meditation for your employees.
By adding mindfulness to your regular roster of employee wellness opportunities, you’ll reinforce the idea that this practice is encouraged and valuable. Your employee wellness program can serve as a constant reminder to employees that their mental and emotional wellness is just as important as their physical wellness by:
As with any new addition to the office, adopting mindfulness as a culture will take time. Start with a single session, follow up with a survey and information, and let your employees guide your decisions in how you grow this exercise into a lifestyle component that’s part of your company culture.