Promote mindfulness in the workplace
According to recent figures, 526,000 workers suffered from work-related stress, depression or anxiety (new or long-standing) in 2016/17, and 12.5 million working days were lost due to work-related stress, depression or anxiety in 2016/17. Stress and anxiety seem to come hand-in-hand with working life these days, but that shouldn’t have to be the case. Encouraging the practice of mindfulness will not only significantly improve your overall mental well-being, but it will also help to relieve feelings of stress and anxiety, meaning that you can be more productive at work.
Listen closely
It’s easy to fall into a routine of talking to co-workers without truly listening to what they are trying to say. We always seem to be so focused on our own thoughts. Next time you and a co-worker are having a chat, whether in the coffee room or at your desk, just listen. Focus on what the other person is really saying instead of filing your mind with upcoming tasks.
Check in with yourself throughout the day and take a breath
Using a simple meditation breathing technique throughout the day will help to improve your overall mindfulness and wellbeing at work. A wonderful mindfulness tool is using your breath to bring you back into the moment, back into being engaged with what you are doing. By ‘checking in’ with yourself this means that you are bringing your awareness into the present moment. This allows us to be fully engaged with what it feels like to be ‘in the body’, and an opportunity to release any tension that we might be holding onto due to workplace stress. We need to release this tension so that it doesn’t continue to sit in our body and affect our health especially our immune system. Technique Start by taking a moment at your desk to get a sense of your feet on the floor. Inhale and exhale gently, just concentrate on the cycle of your breath flowing in and out of your body. Repeat this a few times. This can help to clear the mind and reduce any work-related stress. If you can close your eyes where you work and do this, even better.
Switch the screen off and get outside
Screens seem to dominate our everyday lives at the moment. If we’re not working at our computer, we’re glued to our phones and tablets on our lunch breaks. A great way to promote mindfulness at work is to allocate some screen-free time. No emails, no social media. Use the time to take a break outside in nature, get some much needed fresh air, or see it as an opportunity to practice your breathing technique.
If you don’t have the opportunity to get outside, consider bringing nature indoors with some plant life, or even an open window.
Annette Sloly is a fully registered Clinical Hypnotherapist based in Clifton, Bristol. She offers support for those who face issues with stress, anxiety, weight management, and public speaking. Over the years, he has worked with everyone from professionals suffering from stress to world-class artists looking to improve their performance. For more information, get in touch to find out how Hypnotherapy can help you today.
