Mindfulness.
One of the things that we tend to forget about in the midst of our busy lives - a now trendy term plastered across chic cafes, boutique yoga studios and hipster T-shirts. But what does the word really mean? According to Jon Kabat-Zinn, a founding director of the Stress Reduction Clinic at UMass Medical School, mindfulness means to have the "awareness that emerges through paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally to the unfolding of experience moment by moment."1
Mindfulness is essentially the practice of focusing our attention on the present: where we are, and what we're doing right now. Our lives are so fast-paced that we seem always to be doing several things at once. While we may succeed at checking off more tasks this way, this crazed multitasking can also easily lead to increased stress and an inability to grasp the present moment.
More than ever, mindful meditation has peaked scientific interests in its association with stress relief, decreased depression, anxiety, pain, insomnia, and an increased quality of life.2
Mindful meditation is no longer just a hippy-dippy practice for yogis; it's becoming a real solution for improving physical and mental health. Since excessive stress can weaken our immune system, it can indirectly lead to infection and illness.3 In this way, mindful meditation has more than one positive outcome.
Still not convinced?
Mindful meditation can become an even greater benefit at the office by helping you with a few things:
Increased Emotional Intelligence
Being more in tune with your emotions and the emotions of others is just one of the benefits that come out of mindful meditation. By having clarity of your own feelings, paying attention to the body and facial expressions of others will become easier – allowing you to avoid tense situations in and outside of work. Happy employees make a happy office!
Making Big Decisions
Have you ever found yourself in the process of making a decision, yet, even after multiple consultations of your peers, could not decide whether or not to get coffee or tea during your break? While this might not seem like a high priority, it acts as a precedent for bigger decisions in the future. Greater mental clarity comes with mindful meditation and is an asset for anyone – especially for those who make strategic decisions on a daily basis.
Improved Memory
As we grow older, it's only natural that we'd forget what we wore on a date years ago, or the names of all our second-grade classmates. But in an office, you might be expected to know, for example, what the monthly stats are off the top of your head. In every company, there are times when you need to be able to respond quickly. And in terms of memory, remembering someone's name from a networking event can go a long way!
So maybe it's time to say "Om" for 10 minutes during the work day to improve our mental and physical health! Mindful meditation makes it easier for us to be fully present in the moment, creating a "greater capacity to deal with adverse events,"4 and who wouldn't want that?
You can meditate anywhere, so it's not hard to make it a daily habit. Whether it's 10 minutes at your desk or 15 minutes when you wake up, mindful meditation can affect your overall health in a positive way.
Don't know where, or how, to start mindful meditation? Check out a feature of our Wellness App Guide, "Headspace," and get your Om on!
1 Zinn, Jon Kabat. "Clinical Psychology." The British Medical Journal 1.5588 (1968): 331-32. Mindfulness-Based Interventions in Context: Past, Present, and Future. University of Massachusetts Medical School, 2003. Web. 2016.
2 Schulte, Brigid. "Harvard Neuroscientist: Meditation Not Only Reduces Stress, Here's How It Changes Your Brain." Washington Post. The Washington Post, 26 May 2015. Web. 04 May 2016.
3 Marks, Shannon. "Development of the Immune System in Children." LIVESTRONG.COM. LIVESTRONG.COM, 16 Aug. 2013. Web. 04 May 2016.
4"Benefits of Mindfulness." : Practices for Improving Emotional and Physical Well–Being. Harvard Health Publications/Helpguide.org, n.d. Web. 04 May 2016.