4 Reasons Meditation Should Be Encouraged in the Workplace

That colleague of yours who has an office space three doors down from you who, at times, seems to be dozing off may not be sneaking in an afternoon nap at all.

Rather, she could be in a state of meditation, and the executives at the firm may be thrilled—or they should be.

One way to support the wellbeing of your employees is to encourage daily meditation. It’s no longer uncommon for organizations to encourage meditation among employees during breaks and to even schedule meditation events during working hours. It can help your team improve focus, lower stress and get a better night’s sleep. Some companies are now offering regular meditation breaks, as well as access to meditation rooms and even in-office practice instruction several times a year. 

Research continues to show that there are major benefits to your physical and mental health for those who practice meditation, learn self-hypnosis, and other stress-management tools. Even if you can just designate a quiet spot for your employees to spend 15 minutes a day, that’s enough time to reap the meditation’s many rewards.

People who practice meditation do it in the hopes that they could hold stress and stress-related issues at bay. Meditation typically involves sitting in a relaxed state, focusing on your breathing, and bringing your mind’s attention to the present without thinking or worrying about the past or future. 

Among the other benefits of practicing meditation include:

Enhanced ability to manage stress

Whether it’s a demanding boss, a difficult customer, irresponsible colleagues, or mounting deadlines, stressful situations will occur in the workplace. When your employees are stressed, they are more likely to engage in unhealthy behaviors that may ultimately be harmful to their own mental health. Wellness activities such as practicing meditation can help team members relieve any built up stress.

Increased quality of sleep

A lack of sleep can impact an employee’s ability to perform basic activities and increase the risk for Alzheimer’s disease or other brain health issues.  According to research by Harvard University, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, meditation can also help people with their sleep issues. 

However, this does not mean people should only practice meditation before hey go to sleep. It helps to also meditate throughout the day, so you can more easily slip into a relaxed state at night. As a result of getting a good night’s sleep the night before, you are more likely to perform well at work the next day.

Boosted energy levels

Ever feel mentally exhausted during work? You are not alone. Many employees often feel tired at work, even if their job is not something that would be considered to be physically demanding. The primary reason for this is mental exertion, which can be traced back most of the time to stress. Meditation during the day will help you restore both your mental and physical energy. It will keep your mind fresh and energized. 

Greater ability to focus

For many employees in the workplace, it often does not take much to let their minds just wander – especially on those days when technological distractions like smartphones and the internet are nearby to give you more reasons to lose your concentration. If you meditate during the day, you are better able to concentrate on ideas and remember facts without getting easily distracted. Research by the University of California, Santa Barbara, backs this statement up. 

Managers in the workplace have to be mindful of all the research available that stresses the importance of practicing meditation. Today’s companies are always seeking how to improve productivity. Meditation can help lead to a happy, thriving workforce and a more efficient one.

Implementing meditation at work

Bringing the benefits of meditation into a company does not have to be a major undertaking.

Start in small increments. If your workplace location and the weather makes it practical, consider going outdoors for a walk. 

You could also have a meditation week where everyone meditates at the same time every day for one week. Some companies also have meditation challenges among departments. You can send out weekly meditations by email. Or even do something as simple as starting each meeting with a two-minute meditation.

No matter what you decide, the important thing is to just do it. The sooner you do, the sooner it can lead to a happier, healthier, and more productive workplace.