Stay present, stay profitable: How integrating workplace mindfulness can optimise business performance
Do you get caught up in a never-ending cycle of deadlines, meetings, and constant distractions?
If you do, you are not alone. Employees often find themselves overwhelmed, stressed, and unable to focus on the tasks at hand.
However, forward-thinking companies are recognising the value of mindfulness in the workplace and its potential to improve both individual and organisational performance.
But what is mindfulness? How can you implement it and why does it help? Find out below.
What is mindfulness?
Mindfulness is the practice of intentionally paying attention to the present moment without judgment. It involves being fully engaged in what you are doing and aware of your thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations. By cultivating mindfulness, employees can enhance their focus, creativity, and overall wellbeing, ultimately leading to improved business outcomes.
How businesses can implement mindfulness
Implementing workplace mindfulness programmes can take various forms. Some companies offer mindfulness training workshops to introduce employees to the practice and provide them with tools and techniques to incorporate mindfulness into their daily routines. Other organisations create dedicated meditation or relaxation spaces where employees can take short breaks to recharge and refocus.
But the most effective strategy is to integrate mindfulness training into your overall employee wellbeing programme. How can this be done?
1. Survey your employees
Firstly, use employee benefits survey questions to find out the areas that your team need help with. Collate the information. This can help you to narrow down the different support you need to give.
2. Work with a provider
Working with employee benefits companies can help you to build a wellbeing programme that really works. They should be able to provide you with an employee benefits guide that outlines the different benefits and help you build a bespoke wellbeing programme after reviewing your survey’s results.
Interested in a bespoke wellbeing benefit solution? Learn more
3. Make training accessible to all
Then, make sure that everyone has access to your solutions. A cost-effective way of integrating mindfulness into your workplace is to utilise technology. Not only does this standardise your provision - ensuring that every employee receives the same excellent level of support - but it allows all staff to access the resources equitably. Online platforms and apps are accessible anytime and anywhere, meaning remote and part-time staff can access the training when they need it.
Also, most modern platforms and apps are also accessible for disabled colleagues, as they can be read by screen readers and normally have functionality that allows those with limited mobility to engage with the content.
Our mindfulness and mental wellbeing app, MyMindPal, trains your team to cope with life’s daily stresses, relax more often, boost positive thoughts, and build good habits that encourage mental wellbeing. Its easy-to-use interface helps staff track their progress, whilst its bite-size activities make progress manageable even for those with the busiest of lifestyles.
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If you would like to find out more about our solutions, get in touch.
What are the benefits of promoting mindfulness?
1. Stress reduction
The biggest benefit of mindfulness is stress reduction. Work-related stress is a prevalent issue in today's corporate world and can have detrimental effects on employee wellbeing and performance. According to the Health and Safety Executive, 17 million working days were lost due to stress, anxiety and depression in 2021/22 alone. That represents a lot of lost productivity.
The statistics around stress are not encouraging. A recent report says that 76% of employees in the UK report moderate-to-high or high levels of stress. This is not an issue that is going to go away by itself.
By practising mindfulness, individuals can better manage their stress levels and cultivate a sense of calm and resilience. In fact, 76% of MyMindPal users say they feel less stressed having used the app. Lower stress levels, in turn, lead to increased job satisfaction, higher employee retention rates, and a healthier work environment. Ultimately, everyone wins.
2. Increased productivity
It is no secret that stress impacts productivity. The Workplace Health Report says that 33% of employees they surveyed reported that high levels of stress impact their productivity.
We have already seen how integrating mindfulness into your wellbeing programme can help reduce stress in the workplace. When employees are challenged, but not stressed, fully present and focused on their work, they can complete tasks more efficiently and effectively. Mindfulness helps reduce distractions and enables individuals to stay on track, resulting in higher-quality output and faster project completion.
If fewer employees are stressed, then there will be a corresponding improvement in absenteeism. Employees will have to take fewer mental health days, meaning their productivity remains as high as possible.
3. Improved relationships
Additionally, mindfulness can foster better workplace relationships and communication. When employees are present and attentive, they are more likely to actively listen to their colleagues, understand their perspectives, and respond thoughtfully. Mindfulness helps create an atmosphere of respect, empathy, and collaboration, improving teamwork and overall organisational culture.
Mindfulness: it benefits both employees and businesses
Integrating mindfulness into the workplace as part of a balanced employee wellbeing programme can yield significant benefits for both employees and businesses. By fostering present-moment awareness, organisations can reduce stress and improve overall wellbeing, ensuring productivity remains as high as possible. Mindfulness is not a quick-fix solution, but rather a long-term investment in creating a thriving work environment where employees can reach their full potential. So, let us stay present, stay profitable, and unlock the power of mindfulness in our workplaces.
