fascinating mindfulness programs in the workplace

In general, many workers are under a lot of stress. They often need to meet deadlines, multitask, and work with others who are not very cooperative. These pressures may lead to chronic stress. As a result of chronic stress; people are more susceptible to developing diseases, miss work, and perform poorly at their jobs. In spite of these unfortunate conditions, workers can use meditation, yoga and other stress reduction techniques to combat these issues. Recently, there have been several interventions and stress reduction programs implemented in the workplace.

One in particular, is the mindfulness program called “search inside yourself” that Google is offering to their employees. The program incorporates three elements that include training your attention, developing self-knowledge and self-mastery, and creating useful mental habits. All three of these are equally important in enabling employees to be more productive, efficient, happier, and work more collaboratively with their co-workers. Another benefit of using mindfulness in the workplace; it allows employees to reflect rather than react in work situations. Since the program has been implemented at Google, the demand for participating in the program has increased dramatically. The demand is so high that there is a long waiting list, which conveys that more employees are realizing the magnitude of the benefits that results from a mindfulness practice.

An interesting fact about the “search inside yourself” program is that most of the participants do not work for Google. Rather they work in unpleasant job conditions, which do not offer the opportunity for advancement or personal growth and transformation. However, the Google mindfulness program offers them this opportunity for growth, which has helped many workers develop inner-peace and acceptance over their work situations.

Some people may have the mistaken notion that when people practice mindfulness that they become isolated and distant from their co-workers. However, the truth is the contrary; it enables co-workers to become more mindful of others and their social interactions.

Some other large companies that use meditation in the workplace include Apple, Prentice Hall Publishing, and Nike.

Anyone who knew about the life of Steve Jobs would not be surprised that meditation was promoted in the workplace of Apple. Steve Jobs himself took part in several meditation retreats and had numerous friendships with Buddhist Monks. His passion and belief in meditation, was conveyed by him allowing his employees to take the time to meditate for 30 minutes each day, and offering classes for yoga and meditation on-site. There was also a meditation room available for people, who wanted to meditate.

"If you just sit and observe, you will see how restless your mind is. If you try to calm it, it only makes it worse, but over time it does calm, and when it does, there's room to hear more subtle things - that's when your intuition starts to blossom and you start to see things more clearly and be in the present more. Your mind just slows down, and you see a tremendous expanse in the moment. You see so much more than you could see before. It's a discipline; you have to practice it."
-Steve Jobs

The publishing industry is a difficult place to work and is considered a high stress job, where employees often report being dissatisfied with their work. Prentice Hall Publishing is buffering the negative effects and helping employees to regain focus and motivation by allowing employees a place to meditate, pray, or practice yoga.

Nike is incorporating meditation in the workplace to help employees be more productive and improve their satisfaction with their job. Nike has offered numerous relaxation rooms, where employees can practice yoga, meditation and prayer. In addition, Nike allows their employees to take part in yoga and meditation classes while at work.

It is evident that mindfulness, meditation, and yoga programs are becoming more popular in the workplace. Within the past few decades, the scientific evidence supporting the benefits of mindfulness, mediation and yoga practices have been mounting, so it’s likely a contributor to why companies are implementing mindfulness programs.

These programs have been a large success for these
companies by improving workers’ productivity, satisfaction and morale.