Simple Ways to Implement Mindfulness in the Workplace
Mindfulness in the workplace
Mindfulness is the new buzzword in business circles. Once upon a time, it might have come up here and there. Now it’s a topic that is being talked about all the time. Why?
The main reason is that it has been scientifically proven to have a positive impact on employees and their individual productivity, and ultimately workplace productivity. It can reduce stress, increase focus, and even decrease employee turnover.
Mindfulness in the workplace is not an alien concept; we all focus our attention each and every day when something suddenly impacts our senses.
Think about when you suddenly smell freshly baked bread or hear some construction drilling as you are walking down the street. Or when you feel a sudden cool breeze. Your thoughts quickly go to that specific sensory change at that immediate time.
However, you may not consciously realise this, and typically your thoughts immediately move somewhere else - perhaps something weighing on your mind.
Simple tools to practice mindfulness in the workplace
Each of these tools has been proven to increase feelings of calmness and focus and can be practiced by anyone, anywhere, regardless of skill level.
You can also transform your daily commute into a mindfulness practice with walking meditation. You can be mindful while on the go with walking meditation, which allows you to bring the benefits of mindfulness to any location.
Most of us don’t think mindfully as often as we should because our lives tend to be fast-paced and filled with activities that take our attention away from the here and now. Read on to learn how you can implement mindfulness in the workplace by following these simple tips…
Morning ritual
Morning meeting
Take a breathing break
Go for a walk
Create a mindful space
Morning ritual
A morning ritual is a great way to kick off the day with a mindful mindset. By starting your day out with a ritual, you are training your mind to be in a mindful state when you need it most – first thing in the morning.
A morning ritual allows you to step out of your daily routine and into a more mindful mindset by providing you with the space to collect your thoughts, be grateful and recognise what is important to you.
A morning ritual doesn’t have to be time-consuming, but it should be something that makes you feel grounded, grateful, and ready to take on the day.
When you practice your morning ritual on a regular basis, you train your mind to be more mindful throughout the day.
You also set yourself up for more success throughout the day by taking the pressure off yourself to “get things done”.
Morning meeting
One ritual could be a quick, stand-up style morning meeting. This is a great way to build a culture of mindfulness within your organisation.
By having a morning meeting, you are not only making the most of the time that people are most focused, but you are also setting the tone for the day.
A morning meeting can help kickstart your employees’ day by allowing an opportunity to reflect on the most important goals and discuss them as a group.
During your meeting, you can set your intentions for the day, and encourage your employees and co-workers to do the same.
This helps kickstart the day by allowing space to reflect on the most important goals of the day and helps avoid being distracted by unimportant tasks.
You can also make the most of the meeting by reflecting on your employees’ goals. This will help you to stay focused on what is important and help your employees to set more realistic intentions for themselves.
Take a breathing break
A breathing break is an excellent tool for bringing you back to the present. It is a simple but highly effective way to de-stress and refocus your attention back on what is happening at the moment.
Breathing breaks can be done in a variety of different ways. You can take a few minutes out of your day to sit quietly with your eyes closed and focus on your breathing.
You can also try a walking meditation where you focus on your breath as you walk. A breathing break can be done at any time, no matter what you are doing.
In fact, you can even do a breathing break while you are at your desk working; just take a moment to close your eyes and focus on your breath.
Go for a mindful walk
The benefits of walking are many, but from a mindful viewpoint, walking allows for a quick pause from your daily activities and brings you back to the present moment.
By taking a walk and focusing on the sensations you feel as your feet hit the ground, and the air hits your face (or the sounds in your ears if you are wearing headphones), you allow yourself to be fully present in that moment.
Taking a walk can be a great way to clear your head, collect your thoughts and take a break from things that are weighing you down.
It can be done at any time and doesn’t require any extra effort or time on your part, other than choosing to walk instead of sitting and staying at your desk.
Whether you decide to implement one or all of these tips, you will be taking a step towards a more mindful workplace.
Create a mindful space at work
In addition to this you can create a mindful space and you could go one step further and create a mindful room. This will give your team permission to take a short mindfulness break and they will also know that you are taking it seriously and not just ticking a box.
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