5 Affordable & Easy Workplace Mindfulness Initiatives That Actually Work
A fight is about to break out by the photocopier. The whole office can feel it. Susan told Linda the monkey mug was a gift from her nephew, but Linda didn’t listen. Linda never listens.
Back in the meeting room, things are no better. You told the Account Manager the new client’s name was Bill, not Barry. Several times. Bill and Barry are sworn enemies. Nothing puts a halt on a new account like one getting called by the name of the other. But what did your Account Manager decide to call Barry in the key first meeting?
Stupid mistakes. Workplace tension. Tension headaches. Stress eating/smoking. Crying in the toilets. They say never work with children or animals but at heart we often never grow up, and no matter how intelligent we are, we’re not robots.
Mindfulness has the answer!
How?
Your key to creating a focused, calm, happier and even healthier (Less sick days!) workforce, there’s a reason why leaders the world over from Google to Harvard Business School to the NHS have cashed in on the benefits.
So how does it work? Does it mean forking out for a qualified yoga instructor to have the whole team assembled in the break room with their eyes closed in the lotus position for an hour every day? Thankfully, no. For the time and cost-pressed business owner, the power of mindfulness is surprisingly cheap and accessible. Without further ado, here are 5 easy and affordable mindfulness practices you can introduce at work today. Just sit back, connect with your senses and watch as your team’s concentration, productivity and focus skyrockets!
Breathwork
This is one you can teach your team to do anytime, anywhere they are feeling overwhelmed. With no extra costs or time spent, all you need to do is focus on your breathing for a set period of time.
Here’s how…
- Take a few deep breaths, in through your nose and out through your mouth, to a count of 3.
- Count your breaths, going from 1 to 10, then starting again at 1, etc.
After about 3-5 minutes, your heart rate will have slowed and your body will have tricked your mind into chill-out mode, leaving you free to concentrate on the task in front of you.
Love your lunch!
When the pressure is piling up and the to-do list feels never-ending, it can be all-too tempting to blaze through your lunch hour. But the problem with simply shoving a sandwich down at your desk is that while your body might get a refuel, your mind will not.
Why not…
- Go for a five-minute walk
- Take your lunch to eat outside
- Take your team out to lunch
And if the sun isn’t shining or you’re not exactly going at a killer pace? Science says you’ll still reap the benefits anyway, with 12 minutes being enough to give you a powerful mood lift!
Set aside a quiet space
It doesn’t take a psychologist to guess that it’s going to be easier to unwind for a few minutes in peaceful surroundings! If you can, why not designate a quiet area of your office, where employees can go to unplug for a few minutes on their lunch break?
Here at Prime, we have a specially allocated mezzanine area upstairs, complete with a couch and two comfortable chairs. After spending a few minutes relaxing there on their lunch, our employees always come back refreshed, replenished and raring to go!
Encourage “single tasking”
The main key to mindfulness is focusing on the present: something that’s not easy to do if you’re doing ten things at once! Now, we understand that in any busy workplace, you’re going to be spinning multiple plates at same time. So, in order to compromise, we suggest encouraging employees to keep a time log for their personal use of when they start and finish a task. This can help to focus their full attention on each task as they are doing it, before moving on to the next one. Simples!
Lead by example!
We know that in the fast-paced world of work, taking the time to prioritize your wellbeing is easier said than done! But we’re big believers in health here at Prime, both physical and mental.
After all, in the words of Michelle Obama...
"Make sure you have your own oxygen mask fixed on before you help the person next to you!"
Well, if taking a few minutes to practice an easy mindfulness method can help improve our performance and focus, that’s a return on investment worth reaping.
