The proven benefits of introducing meditation into your workplace
We live in a world of immediacy, a fast-paced culture that we’re all rushing through.
The workplace in particular is known for ‘work ‘til you drop’ cultures that leave employees stressed, overworked and, as a result, unproductive.
And then Covid hit. Which for many exacerbated the pressure they were feeling and the stress they were faced with.
As employee roles kept changing and they had to learn to continuously adapt, their mental health and wellbeing felt the impact. Not only does this affect employees in their day-to-day lives, but it can also have a knock on effect with their capacity to fulfil their roles and work to their full potential.
The importance of physical and mental health of employees
Even before the pandemic, more and more companies have been looking for new, effective ways to boost employee wellness and better support staff in the workplace.
Our jobs pay the bills, occupy many of our waking hours and take up a lot of headspace. Even if you love your job, work can still be a source of significant stress, with tight deadlines, long days and difficult conversations eventually taking their toll.
No matter what your job, work can cause anxiety and disruption in your life.
This is where meditation can step in. With numerous scientific studies proving how it can boost physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing, the power of meditation is clear.
So, what do the studies say?
Well, here are some of the proven benefits regular meditation practice can bring to your workplace…
1. Stress relief
Stanford University School of Medicine found that meditation actually leads to a 30% decrease in stress-related symptoms that often lead to serious illness
And a Harvard study showed that meditation can have a longer-lasting effect on reducing stress levels than taking time off from work.
2. Increases concentration and attention span
Another study by Harvard has shown that meditation enhances neural pathways in the brain responsible for concentration and attention.
3. Improves general mood
Headspace found that just 10 days of guided meditation can reduce stress by 14% and irritability by 27%.
And three weeks of consistent meditation showed an increase in compassion by 23% and a 57% reduction in aggression.
As well as this, researchers at Boston University found that meditation programs can reduce anxiety and depression, making workers more optimistic and increasing their overall satisfaction with their careers.
4. Better decision making
Researchers have found that even just a few minutes of mindfulness meditation can bring you back to the objective reality of the present tense which usually leads to a better perspective and smarter decision making.
An alternative study also found a link between mindfulness and creativity. This means those who meditate regularly tend to improve their problem-solving abilities and come up with more out of the box ideas, both of which are skills that can be beneficial in the workplace.
5. Enhances productivity
Researchers took a look at how meditation improved productivity specifically in the workplace. It was found that absenteeism fell by 85%, productivity rose by 120% and injuries dropped by 70%.
Further studies conducted assessed how mindfulness training affects the workplace environment and the results showed the training was very effective in reducing burnout, reducing perceived stress and improving wellbeing.
Could you or your employees benefit from meditation?
The studies show that regular meditation can help improve employee wellbeing, boost work performance, and cultivate a positive culture.
By implementing a meditation programme into your organisation, you will provide your employees with a toolkit to better cope with workplace stress and be more productive.
If you’re ready to introduce meditation into your workplace and access all the benefits it has to offer, there are three ways I can support employees:
1. Meditation Introductory Workshops:
To provide employees with an insight into the benefits of meditation and help them start to put the foundations in place for regular meditation practice that will improve their mental and physical wellbeing.
2. One-to-One Meditation Sessions:
Personalised meditation and mindfulness plan to help individuals achieve their goals and learn helpful tools, tips and tricks for navigating personal obstacles and challenges faced in everyday life.
3. Deep Dive Meditation 6-Week Programme:
This is the perfect meditation practice for those looking for a greater understanding of meditation and are ready to further explore the different ways it can create positive lasting change to a person’s life.
To find out more, click here to book a call with Rhodope!
You can also join my free group ‘Meditation with Rhodope’ here where I share lots of meditation resources, tips, videos and ideas to guide you on your journey and help you get started with meditation
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