Mindfulness at Work

“Mindfulness helps us get better at seeing the difference between what’s happening & the stories we tell ourselves about what’s happening, stories that get in the way of direct experience. Often such stories treat a fleeting state of mind as if it were our entire & permanent self.” - Sharon Salzberg, Author & Teacher Mindfulness can be described as a ‘present-focused consciousness’ meaning individuals who are not contemplating about the past or worrying about the future; they are simply living in the present, here & now. In simpler words, it is our ability to stay focussed yet flexible and is a way of reprogramming the mind to think in a healthier, less stressful way. Mindfulness in the workplace is becoming more important as we transform from a manufacturing to a knowledge-based economy. In a manufacturing economy, the body was the primary means of production. But in a knowledge economy, it is the brain. Mindfulness has a multitude of benefits for workplaces & businesses that affect employee performance and well-being including response flexibility, decreased absenteeism, empathy, increased self-determination, persistence & improved working memory. Listed below are few benefits that the practice of mindfulness can have on the employees: 1. Enhanced Employee Engagement - Mindfulness in the workplace enhances employee engagement & decreases burnout. Mindfulness has been shown to relate both to increased performance & decreased intention of turnover. Employees who practice being mindful are therefore more likely to show greater acceptance of colleagues without reactivity. 2. Improved Workplace Relationships - Positive workplace relationships can have a significant impact as they absorb the effects of workplace stressors, promote thriving in colleagues, foster communication, creativity & collaborative behaviours. Mindfulness promotes positive social connections in the workplace through a number of integral mindfulness processes, but most especially empathy & response flexibility. 3. Enhanced Task Performance - The way that mindfulness is implicated in workplace performance is dependent on the nature of the task & the environmental factors of the work. It promotes better decision making, with decision biases being less likely due to attention to the present environment & reduced overthinking. 4. Job Satisfaction & Motivation - Mindfulness facilitates more adaptive evaluations of work stressors. When something challenging happens at work, a mindful employee will not simply react & judge what is happening emotionally, rather they will consider it with a more holistic & informed approach. They will be more likely to take up challenges & show higher levels of motivation, in times of adversity. 5. Increases Adaptability - Being able to adapt quickly & efficiently at work is essential. Mindfulness helps in acclimating to new situations & handling multiple demands. The more you practice & expose yourself to different ways of doing things, to learning, and to gaining confidence in uncertainty, the more adaptable you will be. 6. Improved Mental Well-being - Practising mindfulness techniques at the workplace lead to several benefits including improved self- awareness, self-management, self-regulation, greater focus, concentration, memory, learning ability, creativity, effective communication & ability to listen more attentively & be present. It’s important to note that mindfulness is not a quick fix, or a few tips here & there. It’s an ongoing practice & a skill – like playing an instrument – that has many elements to it & builds over time. Few quick ways to be more mindful at work include being a single tasker, being consciously present, taking small breaks, practicing acceptance & starting your work with the right intention ! At Wellness Associates, we provide several workshops and programs that focus on mindfulness, meditation & overall employee wellbeing.