Benefits of Mindfulness in the Workplace

During my research journey I will share and translate my findings into a simple, easy and readable form here on LinkedIn.

The wellness culture is rapidly growing in organizations and there is certainly a place for mindfulness in there. Organizations that have the foresight to run wellness programs for their employees has got an huge advantage. Mental health and physical well-being in the workplace have become paramount as it has become obvious that stressed employees are not productive.

Evidence based results from around the world continue to show that the regular practice of Mindfulness has ongoing benefits for physical and mental health.

Proven benefits from regular mindfulness practice are:

•    Reduce stress
•    Increase productivity
•    Improve decision making skills
•    Develop leadership skills
•    Enhance Creativity at work and
•    Generally enjoy work more!

Whilst there are a several scientific theories that look at why and how mindfulness affects us emotionally and physiologically. The research is very complex and ongoing. We researchers and academics still have a lot to discover and I will be continuing my research further to gain more insight into how we can put into practice the workplace to boost performance, productivity, happiness and well-being.

Mindfulness is a key skill for happiness and we can do it wherever we are.

Emotional Spirals:

"As we practice mindfulness, the interaction between more positive emotional experiences, fewer negative ones and increased mindfulness seems to be mutually reinforcing, which creates an 'upward spiral' of well-being, enabling us to be happier and to develop positive coping strategies when things go wrong." (Vanessa King, 2016)

"Multitasking work environments are killing productivity, dampening creativity and making us unhappy."

Beyond being an increasingly popular practice for top executives and celebrities, mindfulness meditation is scientifically proven to increase memory and awareness and reduce stress and negative thinking. There are some simple daily habits that can make you more productive and happier at work. 

There is a growing list of companies who have adopted mindfulness practices into their stress reduction programs which include organizations like Google, Apple, Faceboo, LinkedIn, General Mills, Blackrock, Green Mountain Coffee, and Eileen Fisher.

Many traditional workplaces however still operate on outdated ideas of productivity: work and think faster, harder, longer, try to do more with less, increase your efficiency. ‘Human doers’ rather than ‘human beings’, overwhelmed with information and the relentless pressure to keep up with technology.

Many employees experience work as the most stressful place to be, quite simply hazardous to their health and this is supported by research where twice as many people cite ‘job stress’ as a major problem than did ten years ago.

Attention deficit disorder, exhaustion, lack of focus, lack of engagement, anxiety, ill health and burnout have all become commonplace. A toxic work culture leads to lower job satisfaction, morale, engagement and productivity. Many workers operate at low levels of hyper arousal or fight / flight mode where habitual automatic negative thought and feeling cycles are triggered throughout their day.

Implementing Mindfulness in the workplace

The cost of stress in the workplace not just on health and well-being but on the bottom line in terms of diminished performance, creativity, and productivity is making this approach unsustainable. There is a growing awareness that what’s good for employees and leaders is also good for business. More and more companies are realizing that their employees’ health / well-being / ability to flourish is one of the most important predictors of the company’s health.

“Our attention is constantly being bombarded. Mindfulness cultivates our ability to sustain attention for longer periods of time – to actively be in the moment in order to make clear decisions…” Janice Marturano

There are specific techniques we can apply to stressful situations as they occur throughout the workday to keep stress in check. The regular practice of the relaxation response can be an effective treatment for a wide range of stress-related disorders, and there are several methods to elicit the relaxation response including progressive muscle relaxation, energy healing, acupuncture, massage, breathing techniques, prayer, meditation, tai chi, qi gong, yoga, and meditation.

What to consider when implementing Mindfulness in the workplace by Bray Leino Learning.

Benefits of Mindful training in the workplace

Mindfulness has been proven to enhance the functioning areas of the brain which influence emotional reactivity and acting on impulse. After an intensive period of mindfulness areas of the brain associated with attention are strengthened. The front part of the brain has important functions which help us make decisions, solve complex problems,plan and set goals and regulates behavior.

After eight weeks of mindfulness training studies showed an area of the brain called the 'insula' became significantly more activated and larger in size. The importance of the 'insula' is associated with the ability to feel empathy and compassion for others, and regulates the senses connected with fundamental elements of happiness and well-being.

The following five key strategies that are proven and intended to reduce stress while at the same help busy professionals to relax and focus throughout their working day.

1. Identify choice points: Choice points are the moments during each day when you are interrupted mid-task and confronted with a new priority. Try to make each choice point an opportunity to consciously decide what is priority and what best aligns with your primary goals.
2. Take awareness breaks: Take a 45-second break once an hour while at work. This can keep you focused on your most relevant tasks.
3. Mindfully breathe: Stop what you’re doing, let go of thoughts, and direct your attention to your breath. It will help relax your body and mind.
4. Manage your email: Emails can take up a significant portion of a lawyer’s time. Remember you have a choice between maintaining focus on your current task or redirecting your attention to the incoming message. You can avoid the interruption by; turning off your email notifications, choosing certain times of the day where you check your emails or avoid addressing your emails first thing in the morning.
5. Start daily mindfulness training: Effective mindfulness training requires just 10 minutes a day of practice and enhances your ability to detect choice points or have meaningful awareness breaks.

This is my first real write up on Mindfulness in the workplace and I hope you like it. My objective is to understand and combined the best science based practice, suggestions and recommendations proven to work time and time again.

Looking forward to your thoughts, ideas and future recommendations.

Regards

Nailah

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