There are a number of advantages of mindfulness that can be reaped by anybody. Mindfulness exercises and meditation have recently sparked a lot of attention recently, particularly for those businesses that are now allowing employees to work from home. Since the COVID-19 pandemic struck the globe in 2019, several businesses have switched their staff to work from home in order to prevent the virus from spreading further.
The State of Employees – In Numbers
According to many reports, more than half the global workforce is currently working from home. Although being a dream for most workers before the epidemic, the change to working from home has caused people to confront issues they had never faced before. Working from home has had a major influence on workers, according to a report released by the Royal Society of Public Health (RSPH).
- Inability to connect – 67% of those polled said they felt less connected to their peers. Employees feel as though they have no one to turn to because of the lack of connection.
- Sleeping Disorders - The poll also discovered that 37% of those who took part had sleep disturbances. Employees may be absent or irregular at work, resulting in poorer productivity, weariness, and a negative influence on their general mental health.
- Isolation - Furthermore, 59% of the participants said that they felt separated from their peers. This has made it difficult for people to connect with their ambitions.
TELUS International also released a survey that identified further effects on workers.
- Anxiety - Because of Covid-19 and the transition to working from home, 75% of workers in the United States experienced anxiety. This might make them feel burned out and reduce their productivity.
- Productivity Reduction - As a result of the aforementioned reasons, productivity has decreased across the globe. This might prevent a firm from reaching its full potential and make people feel useless.
- Work-Life Harmony - Working from home has also led to a blurring of the lines between business and personal life, particularly for individuals who do not have access to an office. Employees find it tough to switch off from work after office hours as a result of this challenge.
- Inadequate Office Setup - With limited time, cash, and space, it has also required individuals to spend more money and energy on developing and maintaining an office-like working environment at home, which is not easy for people, particularly those with pre-existing mental and physical health difficulties.
- Distractions - Employees who raise children and families must constantly care for their children as well as the requirements of other family members. Such employees are bombarded with constant diversions, which they are unable to ignore since they are physically present at home and must respond to matters.
- Focus Deficit – Apart from that, those who are more sensitive to their surroundings have found it difficult to concentrate on work as a result of the global socioeconomic instability brought on by the epidemic, as well as its mental health consequences.
- Fatigue from Screens - Employees may become less interested and exhausted as a result of the new standard of video meetings and virtual environments in the workplace, particularly if the sessions are protracted.
What Can Mindfulness Do For You?
The negative influence on people’s well-being can be avoided with mindfulness programs. Over the previous decade, mindfulness has come a long way. It has aided in addressing the mental health difficulties that workers experience in the workplace during these trying times. The ability to stay cool and prepared to perform in a variety of situations is a significant advantage.
Employees who get mindfulness training are able to think and remain in the present moment. It also results in increased adaptability, flexibility, and self-awareness. Moreover, it reduces emotional exhaustion, promotes transparency, and assists workers in developing compassion for one another. It also assists employees in identifying mental health concerns in themselves and their coworkers, as well as reducing stigma and creating a supportive working atmosphere. Employees working from home may benefit from mindfulness in the event of a pandemic by:
Enhancing the Ability to Communicate and Engage With Others Online
Mindfulness is about concentrating on the present moment and what is going on right now. Grounding exercises or paying attention to one's breath might help with this. It may assist those working from home in attaining peak performance by enhancing their attention.
Avoiding Burnout, Establishing Stable Work-Life Boundaries
You will not concentrate on the past or future since mindfulness helps you focus on the now. This allows people to develop psychological separation beyond work hours, allowing them to concentrate on their personal life and avoid burnout. To accomplish this, grounding techniques and body scans may be recommended.
Preventing Any Issues that Add to Your Mental Workload
The concept of feeling burnt out as a result of protracted video meetings or screen exposure is known as Zoom/Screen Fatigue. It develops as a result of a rise in mental strain. You may use mindfulness to recognize indicators of screen fatigue and self-regulate. This might include deep breathing, meditation, or hourly mindful check-ins.
Stress Reduction
Mindfulness has been demonstrated to lower stress by increasing the amount of grey matter in brain areas that deal with emotional regulation, memory, learning, and perspective development, according to Harvard research.
Removing Mental Stumbling Blocks
When there is less stress and greater clarity, it is easier to comprehend difficult real-world situations and develop answers to them. This may be quite beneficial to professionals who are working on analytical issues.
Final Word
Implementing mindfulness programs can also be a long-term investment for you. Attending relevant seminars and training is no longer a luxury, but rather a need. Mindfulness is critical in the fight to keep yourself psychologically and physically fit since it may help you manage anxiety and stress while also increasing overall productivity.
