The Importance of Mindfulness in the Workplace

There’s a lot that goes into mindfulness and it’s not easy to define, but in the workplace it’s all to do with how focused and conscious individuals are in relation to their work. Instead of worrying about the past and thinking about the future, mindfulness requires workers to be present and in the moment. It’s all to do with experiencing things throughout the work day, without evaluating or analysing it too much, and instead simply reacting to whatever the day throws at them. 

The Benefits of Mindfulness in the Workplace

1.    Improved Social Relationships - Mindfulness can encourage positive working relationships, which in turn boosts productivity and employee happiness at work. Employees who are mindful are more likely to be accepting of other colleagues, more flexible and more responsive. This is key for businesses that rely on teamwork and individuals working together.

2.    Improved Resilience - Mindfulness in the workplace can encourage employees to be resilient, something that many people struggle with. It promotes positivity and shields them from negativity, such as being agitated by someone else’s habits in the office. Being resilient can help staff to stay calm when under pressure.

3.    Improved Task Performance - Mindfulness is linked to having fewer cognitive failures, such as being distracted or forgetting an important piece of information. Therefore, an employee who is practising mindfulness is likely to have improved task performance. They are less likely to make mistakes and become distracted during a stressful day at work.

The Importance of Mindfulness in the Workplace

• Improved Job Satisfaction - There’s a lot of research to suggest that mindfulness in the workplace can improve job satisfaction, as being mindful reduces the chances of being affected by workplace stressors. When there’s a challenge at work, a mindful employee will find it easier to adapt and find a solution.
• Combating Employee Stress - There are a lot of employees who struggle with workplace stress, but mindfulness can help to combat this. By eliminating as much workplace stress as possible, mindfulness helps employees to focus on tasks and productivity..
• Improved Employee Engagement - It’s not uncommon for hardworking employees to burnout at work, but mindfulness can reduce the chances of this happening. With improved employee satisfaction and less stress, employees are much more likely to feel engaged at work.
• Better Equipped to Cope with Change - Change happens a lot at work, but mindfulness can help employees to cope with this. Not only does this make change a lot easier to deal with, but it makes it less likely to result in a drop in productivity or an increase in stress.