One of the latest eastern practices that seem to be going mainstream is mindfulness, something roughly based on the art of yoga. Some schools offer students the opportunity to tap into their own mindfulness these days and seeing that it helps millions deal with stress, anxiety, and depression, it may be just what you need to break out of that rut and find inner peace at work.

But how can mindfulness help you at work? Well, there are three main ways in which this practice may be able to lend you a helping hand.

It Reduces Stress

A professor at the University of Massachusetts, Jon Kabat-Zinn, tried and tested the effects of mindfulness on his students when he first rolled out his stress reduction program, and according to him, mindfulness helps with more than just stress reduction, it transforms the way in which you deal with stress. Jon says: “You’re going for a deeper approach,” he says, “because you look at how to get the mind to let go of stressful thinking.”

It Brings About Mental Clarity

Whenever we’re placed under significant amounts of stress in the workplace, it instantly reduces our mental abilities, but when people start practicing mindfulness, they might be able to achieve much more since they become more aware and don’t ‘zone’ out at work. One study showed that by merely practicing mindfulness for eight weeks, you’d be able to boost your memory and improve your mental focus. When mindfulness is regularly practiced, it may help you concentrate better and keep you from getting distracted from everyday tasks.

It Teaches You Compassion and Empathy

The workplace is full of irritations, judgments, and conflicts, which is exactly why the arts of compassion and empathy are critical skills for mentally happy and healthy employees. By simply practicing mindfulness, you may be able to learn the skill of bearing a more positive attitude towards your colleagues, which can be very beneficial. For any workplace to function well, there needs to be a sense of tolerance and non-prejudice because if we’re going through our days (at the office) with a sense of resentment towards our colleagues, our ‘office selves’ soon become miserable.

Can Mindfulness Help Me Find a Job?

You see, having a sense of self-acceptance (something which you learn by practicing mindfulness) can assist you with your job hunting process as well as in the interview room. Being mindful will help you be more confident and comfortable in your own skin. You’ll have better control over the present moment and come across as a more assertive individual.

How Often Should Mindfulness Meditation Be Practiced?

Roughly 15 to 20 minutes of mindfulness meditation should suffice for those looking to benefit from this eastern practice, but you should be integrating it into your daily life. Whenever you need to de-stress or just reconnect with the present moment is a perfect time to meditate.

Are There Companies Out There Bringing Mindfulness into the Workplace?

Apple, Google, General Mills, and the Deutsche Bank are but four of countless big-name businesses that have implemented mindfulness programs for their employees. As far as special mentions go, Google should be on top of that list. They have a mindfulness program at their head offices, led by Chade-Meng Tan, all with the aim of helping their employees increase their emotional IQ with the help of scientifically proven mindfulness techniques. The program is called Search Inside Yourself, and it has in recent days become a program offered outside of the Google workplace.

Isn’t it about time that more South African employers started considering the amazing benefits of mindfulness meditation and the positive outcomes it can have on their employees?