Mindfulness at Work

Mindfulness at Work

Mindfulness is often confused to be the same as Meditation. It is different, in the sense that it is about being aware of, and focusing all of one’s attention to the present - what is happening and what needs to be done - in a way, Being fully Present. Meditation - especially breathing exercises, is simply a way by which one can experience mindfulness.

This awareness of the present, of the conscious self, and in a way, also of the surroundings, is a much-required trait in the workplace. It can change the very way work is perceived by people. Various ways that mindfulness can be practised at work are –

• Introduce silent spaces: When employees come to work, or at any point of their workday, they are carrying a lot of the past few hours with them. Introducing a space where they can go to take a breather from everything, meditate, or simply get their thoughts in order, is a great way to encourage mindfulness.
• Gratitude Meets:

The pressures of the workplace, of tasks and deadlines are immense, and affect the peace of mind. In case something goes wrong, it spoils one’s whole day because it remains at the top of one’s mind.

With gratitude meets, the positive aspects of the day, even the smallest ones can be acknowledged and applauded, and this promotes the idea of focusing on not just the negatives but also the positives of work.

Practising mindfulness at work is also considered highly advantageous, as -

• It helps increase productivity:

It is often misunderstood that multitasking leads to higher productivity. Instead, it leads to increased confusion and chaos.

Employees practising mindfulness, being fully aware of the tasks needed to be done, getting their requirements and prioritize tasks in order, and focusing on them one by one, is the correct way to go.

• It decreases stress:

One’s workplace often is the main stress point in their daily lives. Deadlines, goals, meetings, and so many other trivial tasks weigh down on their minds, that they forget to calm down, and this increases the stress even more.

Mindfulness allows one to unwind, and that allows them to de-clutter what is running in their minds. They are able to actively identify and solve stress-inducing issues, thus decreasing stress.

• Increases Creativity:

Practising mindfulness refreshes the mind and, interestingly enough, also paves the way for creativity.

With minimal distractions, and a refreshed mind, one starts to think innovatively, and this brings forth newer perspectives to the same things. With fresh perspectives, naturally, creativity is also at an all-time high.