Mindfulness At The Workplace:Why We Need It

Written by Lori Schlotzhauer, MSPT, Mindfulness Coach, Qualified MBSR teacher, and originally published in the Glendale Cheery Creek Chronicle.

What Is Mindfulness?

Mindfulness may seem like a buzzword, however it is on the cusp of becoming a household name. It is a centuries-old idea that has been reinvented to address modern day mental health challenges.

So what is mindfulness really? It is a “mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one’s feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic and meditation technique.”

Mindfulness enhances emotional intelligence and equips us with the ability to manage our emotions internally and externally. Mindfulness and its impact on stress is also linked to a number of physiological benefits including lower blood pressure, improved memory, and reduced depression and anxiety.

If one can be more mindful of how they are showing up in the world, it will create space to reflect and potentially show up differently if their current way is not serving them. Mindfulness has been taught in physical healthcare settings, educational institutions, mental healthcare settings, and it now has become increasingly necessary in the workplace setting.

Modern Day Wellness For Every Employee

Today’s employees approach job hunting with a predetermined list of expectations. After adapting to a “new normal” during the COVID-19 Pandemic, more people have become health conscious more than ever before, and now that companies are reverting back to in-office requirements, they may start to sense resistance and anxiety from previously remote employees.

For business leaders needing to retain their employees and attract top talent, it is imperative that they offer wellness programs as part of their employment package. Employers offering mental health benefits for their organization are at an advantage compared to those who fail to provide these sought after services.

Employers have also recognized the importance of their employees’ mental health and the direct relationship to their at-work performance. Offering mental health and mindfulness services not only impacts an employees’ job performance but it shows existing and potential employees that the company truly cares about the individual.

Some of the most cutting-edge companies have placed higher priority on their people and have incorporated corporate wellness programs for their benefit. The movement began among startups in Silicon Valley and has now been implemented by long-established companies across the U.S. and Europe, of varying sizes.

Organizations are becoming more invested in the well-being of employees due to an increased awareness of mental health and the detrimental impacts associated with an unhealthy workforce. Absenteeism, presenteeism, turnover, and a lack of productivity are all very costly issues that are closely tied to employee stress and mental health. The number of sick days lost to serious mental health issues has doubled in the past decade and mental health is the leading cause of sickness-related absences.

Why Is Mindfulness Important In The Workplace?

With the increased number of companies that have implemented mindfulness into their wellness programs, we are starting to see the positive impact this change has made: decreased stress levels while improving focus, thoughtfulness, decision-making abilities, and overall well-being. The benefits of mindfulness are both clear and proven. Mindfulness programs help leaders and employees reflect effectively, focus sharply, manage stress, and recharge quickly.

On an organizational level, mindfulness reduces sick days, increases trust in leadership, and boosts employee engagement. The art of mindfulness empowers people to radically strengthen their ability to adapt quickly to evolving circumstances and motivates them to develop their skills. It creates mental agility and helps people look inward to find answers.

To fully capture the benefits of mindfulness, companies should customize their mindfulness programs. While it is valuable to begin by determining the objective of mindfulness interventions, many organizations have also achieved good results by starting with a small pilot program, such as providing a mindfulness course to senior leadership.

Resilience and the ability to deal with difficult situations is critical to a person’s well-being. During stressful periods, employees with high levels of resilience are more likely to persevere and remain engaged and productive. Mindfulness at work can support resilience by equipping employees with the ability to understand their emotions, levels of stress, and thus enhance their ability to influence them.

We all need mindfulness training and the ability to implement this on the professional level; but where do we start?

How To introduce A Mindfulness Program Within Your Company

Lori Schlotzhauer, Mindfulness Coach and owner of Health and Harmony Wellness located in Denver, Colo., is excited to announce that she has expanded the services of private Mindfulness Coaching and group classes to companies and organizations of all sizes. She is trained in evidence-based Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction which was founded by a leading pioneer of corporate mindfulness, Jon Kabat-Zinn. She has over 15 years in facilitating mindfulness and personal development classes.

She provides customized live and virtual mindfulness workshops of varying lengths to help employees (from staff level to executive level) better manage stress and burnout, and ultimately, help people feel more job satisfaction. She believes that increasing mindfulness in the workplace starts from the top down through leading by example, which is why she empowers leaders to place more priority on their true stakeholders: the employees. She takes pride in offering these cutting-edge services to companies in order to benefit employees’ overall well-being and the company’s bottom line.

For a free consultation to see if her programs are a fit for you individually or for your business, contact her at lori@healthandharmonydenver.com or 720-218-9064.