Mindfulness, an HR tool for a better wellbeing.
Welcome to the Adastra Blog, in this edition, we are talking all things mindfulness and wellbeing!
In recent years, there has been a rising interest among HR professionals into the practice of mindfulness meditation. But with an unexpected wellbeing crisis apparently already on us, or soon to be with rising levels of burnout, overwork and stress, mostly pandemic-sparked it is certainly a hotter topic than ever before.
Ultimately what we’re considering when we talk about mindfulness is a resilience to find a way to reduce stress and improve overall wellbeing.
According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) over 10 million working days were lost last year in the UK to stress…But were they really?
Stress is often misconceived, and in fact mindfulness shows us that it isn’t actually stress that’s the problem. Stress is inevitable but what makes stress a problem and leads to absenteeism or burnout is the way people react to it.
It is believed that many employees are in need of emotional and mental support during this unprecedented time. In some organisations mindfulness is already being considered and guided meditations have been made available for employees to use at their own convenience and are considered simple measures to help support employees as a coping mechanism.
Mindfulness meditation is clinically proven to help the cessation of thought patterns that perpetuate the slow drip of stress hormones. After all, we are all human, and will often react badly to workplace stress at times, even if we practice mindfulness. However, the more we practice the more resilient we become. This is in part because mindfulness meditation helps rewire our brains.
Such practice will inevitably lead to reduced absenteeism, improvements in interpersonal relationships and higher productivity.
However, mindfulness or, indeed, any people centric-policies, would need to be part of an organisational strategy and culture to be successful. Employees need to know they’re valued and looked after, and leaders have a role to play in building a sense of confidence and calm while alleviating anxieties in these unsettling times.
This is not an easy feat but is increasingly important. Mindfulness helps to maintain a sense of normality and aid business continuity, as these are not normal times. Globally, people are working from home while juggling multiple responsibilities – looking after family members, providing access to daily food supplies, and ensuring children continue their education from home.
The reason mindfulness meditation is so exciting is that it provides your employees with a skill that allows them to take personal responsibility for their own wellbeing, whether at home or at work.
However, to be of any success and to experience the full benefits of mindfulness, an organisation would need to work with employees to consider the benefits, ideally working with a mindfulness instructor who understands your business or commit to setting up a regular mindfulness program.
While mindfulness does require practice and discipline, the basics can be taught very quickly and techniques can be effective in minutes. Therefore, it’s no surprise that mindfulness is fast becoming an invaluable tool for HR professionals and organisations who are dedicated to tackling the root causes of stress rather than simply dealing with its symptoms.
That’s it from us for this blog, however, If you have any further questions or need support on mindfulness and employee well being, please get in contact and we’ll be happy to chat: advice@adastrahr.co.uk