Awareness and Meditation in the workplace

Mindfulness describes the ability to be fully present in every moment we experience, free from any criticism of our thoughts and feelings. 

Numerous studies have studied the benefits of this practice for our mental health, a fact that leads more and more workplaces to promote training programs in mindfulness based on the well-being of human resources.

Given that increased levels of stress are one of the most common causes that negatively affect the mental health of employees and consequently their performance at work, Bostock and colleagues (2019), investigated the impact of the application of mindfulness and meditation techniques on work stress.

The study involved 60 employees working in the field of digital marketing and the effectiveness of a one-day training in relation to a comprehensive training program lasting 6 weeks was examined. Techniques used included meditation and mindfulness training, diaphragmatic breathing practice, and the use of mental imagery to develop mindfulness skills.

The researchers found that the integrated training program led to a significantly greater reduction in stress levels compared to one-day training. They also concluded that it was more likely to contribute to the regulation of negative emotions but also to the development of management strategies.

According to the above findings, the integration of awareness and meditation programs in the work environment, seems to help significantly in reducing work stress, with researchers highlighting the effectiveness of integrated interventions.

Bostock, S., Crosswell, A. D., Prather, A. A., & Steptoe, A. (2019). Mindfulness on-the-go: Effects of a mindfulness meditation app on work stress and well-being. Journal of occupational health psychology, 24(1), 127.