4 Ways Mindfulness Impacts You in the Workplace

No matter what your job is, work can be stressful. In fact, more than 90% of US employees suffers from work-induced stress. One out of four of them even reported how they’ll probably burn out within the next 12 months and resign entirely. Not only does this exhaustion result in unhappy employees, but it also reflects on their work output.

Fortunately, there is a solution to this issue, by practicing mindfulness. As we discussed in ‘Benefits of Mindfulness’, the rewards vary from providing better sleep, to enhancing focus. This good habit also has lessons that can be taken to work, too.

Here are some ways mindfulness can help you cope in the workplace and help you fall in love with your job all over again.

Avoids conflict

A bit of meditation can help you understand that sometimes your beliefs can be driven by emotion. After all, emotions are automatic, illogical, and often biased — especially if you don't know how to control them. By practicing mindfulness, you prevent acting out based on intense feelings. Sometimes, it also causes conflicts between colleagues, as you might end up projecting unto others. Having your thoughts sorted out in an orderly manner can help you think more objectively and how to handle the real problem at hand.

Fosters creativity

Most jobs require their employees to “think outside the box” or come up with new ideas to sell products, reach customers, and other tasks that require that extra spark. Mindfulness can help since it quiets the mind, and a quieter mind can allow space for new ideas. Researchers from the Institute for Psychological Research and Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition reveal that this focus and open-mindedness has a positive impact on creativity, increasing your ability to look at everything through a new lens and without judgement.

Encourages leadership

Empathy is the most important leadership skill you need, and it shouldn’t be reserved for CEOs and managers. According to organizational leadership experts from Maryville University, leadership goes beyond knowing how to order people around. True leadership puts emphasis on critical thinking and understanding others. It’s also being a mindful one — somebody who knows how to put themselves in other people's shoes. That way, you can act with more initiative and heart, as you are more aware of your colleagues’ feelings.

Eases frustration

A difficult boss can make even the greatest job a nightmare. In fact, a study from MambooHR reports how 44% of working professionals have quit their jobs because of a difficult boss. If you’re dealing with a similar situation, a bit of mindfulness helps you understand the “whys” and “hows” of your boss’ inner workings. The better you understand your boss, the better positioned you are to deliver results, manage expectations, and know when not to take things personally.

Contrary to popular belief, the goal of mindfulness isn’t to “empty the mind.” Rather, it’s to help you pay close attention to your physical sensations, thoughts, and emotions in order to be your best self at work.

An article exclusive for nupoweryoga.com
Submitted by Resha James