When most of us think about 'practicing mindfulness,' our first thought is meditation, yoga, and being one with nature. And while these are all great ways of practicing mindfulness, they don't paint the real picture of what mindfulness is.
Written by Dr. Adeola Mead, FitPros Wellbeing Speaker
Mindfulness is the act of being present in the moment - it's being fully immersed in a task and achieving a flow state; it's being aware of our inner and outer world and observing sounds, sensations, and thoughts without assigning labels or judgement to any of it.
Being in a mindful state is synonymous with focus, focused on the now and the task at hands. This is why mindfulness is so helpful for productivity. Not only does it reduce stress and improve wellbeing, but it helps us center and focus more intently on what we're doing.
According to research, mindfulness leads to better attention to the presnet moment, better allocation of attention amid competing demands, and better use of cognitive resources.
How to Create a Culture of Mindfulness at Work
Encourage employees to single-task instead of multitasking:
When employees have too much to focus on, they can't be fully present on what they're doing, which can prove counterproductive.
When we slow down and focus on one task, we can produce better work and feel more focused overall. Leaders should clearly communicate the order of priority for the tasks they expect their employees to complete.
Promote mindful breaks:
Mindfulness breaks don't need to be long; they can be 10 minutes and can be as simple as closing your eyes for a few minutes and checking in with your breath. Furthermore, encourage employees to take lunch breaks away from their desks.
When we take regular breaks throughout the workday, we can return to our work refocused and refreshed.
Educate employees on mindfulness practices and stress management:
Enroll staff in mindfulness and mental health training workshops, send a weekly newsletter containing mindfulness tips, or offer in-office yoga or meditation sessions where employees can take a break and decompress during the day.
Looking for more? Contact a Wellbeing Manager to discuss your organizational wellbeing needs.
We provide workplace teams with mindful practices, personal and professional wellbeing growth, fitness instruction, and opportunities for social connection. We aim to inspire the highest potential in people at work, in life, every day, so they can show up healthy and at their best.
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