The main benefits of introducing Mindfulness at Work

The average person only works effectively 50% of their time. And that 50% is only focused on the important goals 41% of the time. And last but not least, approximately 25% of the workforce in the average company suffers from anxiety or stress.

They are staggering numbers that should make us think. What's going on? How can we solve it? What is the problem?

The problem is the lack of focus, of attention, as well as the "addiction to action" created by the dopamine, a neurohormone that our brain creates, responsible for motivation and pleasure.

• Related article: "Psychology of work and organizations: a profession with a future"

A culture of distractions

We are suffering the effects of the "always on" culture and the digital age. We are continually distracted, trying to do more, but the reality is that multitasking deceives us and we are actually doing less in what is really important. We do less and worse.

Thus, the addiction to action that the digital age creates for us, and the "need to always be connected", they cause us to jump from one task to another simply because of the motivation that "having done something" creates in us.

Constant data overload and extreme time pressure mean that even talented and highly capable people are sometimes not able to cope with their responsibilities. This situation continued over time causes stress, which can be a debilitating disease.

The constant pressure of working in a corporate world leads many people to seek tools to improve sustainable performance, tools that can help themselves and their teams to carry out work with greater attention and at a higher level, but without sacrificing well-being and balance in life. One of these tools is called Mindfulness, or Mindfulness.

What is going on in the mind?

Information overload makes our minds start to overflow and to work more slowly as it cannot handle so much data.

This usually happens gradually, and you may not notice it at first. The first symptoms are that your mind begins to work more slowly, you begin to lose the clarity of what you want to do, you start to become forgetful, to feel exhausted, until your mind is blocked at first by moments. In the most extreme cases and if no action is taken, a total blockage can occur ...

You have surely noticed that when you open many windows on your computer, although it continues to work, it slows down. If you keep opening windows it may crash. Your mind is the same. It is important to be aware that you have many windows open in your mind, and it is important to know how to close the windows that you do not need to have open to avoid mental blockage.

Are we destined to have minds that constantly wander, remain inattentive, and lose focus?

Fortunately, the answer is no. It is possible to train the brain to respond differently to today's constant interruptions through the practice of Mindfulness, Mindfulness.

In short, broadly speaking, Mindfulness means trained attention. Based on thousands of years of practice, Mindfulness techniques allow people to manage their attention, improve their awareness, and sharpen their focus and clarity. The key is to take a holistic view of your life and apply mindfulness techniques to daily work and life.

In the end, this is what mindfulness is. It brings us closer to our best selves and to realizing our potential in everyday life. People who are more focused, clear-minded, and kind make organizations better. And many better organizations make for a better world.

Think of a world where improving performance goes hand in hand with being a good person. And a world in which goodness is valued in a company as much as efficiency and effectiveness, as much as earnings per share or operating cash flow. It may sound overly optimistic, but I see it happening every day in many organizations around the world.

The main benefits of introducing Mindfulness at Work

The benefits are multiple, and both the individual and the company will notice them, since in the end it is the individuals who form the organization.

1. Stress reduction

Mindfulness in the workplace is a hot topic among companies as a way to help reduce stress, one of the biggest causes of sick leave. 80% percent of employees report that they feel stress at work and need help learning how to manage it. Many successful companies today offer Mindfulness programs to their employees.

• You may be interested in: "Work-related stress: causes, and how to combat it"

2. Absorption of new information

Science shows that when you allow your brain to take a break from problem solving, critical thinking and the development of new skills help increase future possibilities for learning and creativity. By creating a space, you learn to see everything from another perspective.

Skipping breaks entirely can lead to increased stress, exhaustion, and stagnation. This is especially true for projects or tasks that require a long focus period.

3. Adaptability

Today more than ever, being able to adapt quickly and efficiently at work is essential. Today, resilient professionals are needed, who are capable of adapting to change. Adaptability plays a prominent role in leadership performance and is usually present in the leaders who can manage change in an optimal way for the company and for the employees.

4. Problem solving

Mindfulness can help solve problems by freeing the mind of distractions and giving it a new angle to reflect. By having Mindfulness, information can be processed from a different angle and thus provide different solutions.

5. Creativity

A primary aspect of creativity is divergent thinking, which refers to the ability to generate new ideas. Practicing mindfulness to enhance creativity in the workplace allows you to think more innovatively than usual.

Mindfulness helps free the brain from distractions. Fundamentally, creativity is just a result of taking a different approach through a new perspective, which is what Mindfulness enables.

6. Vitality

Our vitality and energy at work constantly oscillate. Vitality is essential to perform tasks while simultaneously enjoying the work that is being done. Staying focused and aware has a positive effect on vitality and motivation, as it helps to be aware of aspirations and goals. When goals are clear to employees, they work with more vitality and focus toward them.

7. Greater empathy for others

Empathy plays a role in allowing us to understand the minds of others and emotionally resonate with those states. Practicing Mindfulness in the workplace allows us to feel empathy for others and develop our Emotional Intelligence, which allows to develop better interpersonal relationships.

Are you looking to reduce your stress, increase your results while improving your well-being?

The company FastrackToRefocus has created a program for individuals and businesses that helps achieve increases in productivity, efficiency, job satisfaction and much more. The quantitative results of this program include greater focus and effectiveness, as well as a higher quality of life, less stress, and better well-being.

The training program is designed for busy professionals seeking a new way of working in high-stress, high-pace conditions; provides a very practical guide so that you, your team, and your family can implement from day one.

The course includes mental techniques that you can introduce both in your private and professional life to strategies that you will gradually introduce in your day to day to better manage the overwhelming volume of emails, unrealistic deadlines, unproductive meetings, rejection of change, creativity and many other basic skills in your day to day that will make you better manage your time and care management, and thus improve your well-being.

• The next online training begins November 4; To see more information, access the link that appears in the author profile that you will find below.