Corporate Wellness: Meditation

Why​ is ​meditation​ ​is​ ​so​ ​useful​ ​in​ ​a​ ​company​ ​setting? ​​ ​When​ ​our​ ​jobs​ ​require​ ​more​ ​from​ ​us mentally​ ​we​ ​need​ ​a​ ​way​ ​to​ ​find​ ​balance.​

Regarding​ ​employee​ ​satisfaction,​ ​America​ ​has​ ​come​ ​a​ ​long​ ​way​ ​from​ ​the​ ​industrial​ ​revolution.  Working ​ ​conditions​ ​were​ ​dangerous,​ ​hours​ ​were​ ​long​ ​and​ ​labor​ ​was​ ​cheap.​ ​​ ​Laws​ ​over​ ​the​ ​years​ ​have increasingly​ ​favored​ ​the​ ​employee.  Unions were born ​and​ ​acts​ ​like​ ​The​ ​Fair​ ​Labor Standards​ ​Act​ ​and​ ​the​ ​Family​ ​and​ ​Medical​ ​Leave​ ​Act were established to protect employees.​ ​​ ​In​ ​more recent​ ​years,​ ​companies​ ​have​ ​realized​ ​the​ ​positive​ ​impact​ ​the​ ​improvement​ ​of​ ​employee’s​ ​lives​ ​has had​ ​on​ ​their​ ​bottom​ ​line.

It​ ​is​ ​becoming​ ​more​ ​and​ ​more​ ​common​ ​and​ ​even​ ​considered​ ​trendy,​ ​to​ ​create​ ​a​ ​company​ ​climate​ ​that supports​ ​healthy​ ​and​ ​happy​ ​employees.​ ​​ ​As​ ​it​ ​turns​ ​out,​ ​this​ ​trend​ ​is​ ​a​ ​win-win​ ​situation​ ​for​ ​both companies​ ​and​ ​employees.​ ​​ ​​ ​Studies​ ​continue​ ​to​ ​reveal​ ​that​ ​happy​ ​and​ ​healthy​ ​employees​ ​are​ ​good employees.

How​ ​are​ ​companies​ ​creating​ ​such​ ​an​ ​environment?​ ​

While some​ ​seem​ ​to​ ​think​ ​that​ ​a​ ​foosball​ ​in​ ​the​ ​break room,​ ​modern​ ​offices​ ​and​ ​a​ ​keg​ ​are​ ​the​ ​solution to reducing office stress, ​there is a healthier and more productive option:​implementing​ ​a​ ​health​ ​and​ ​wellness​ ​program​ ​that​ ​incorporates​ ​meditation.​ ​​ ​Meditation is​ ​growing​ ​in​ ​popularity​ ​among​ ​young​ ​business​ ​owners​ ​and​ ​professionals.​ ​​ Ellen​ ​Degeneres​ ​and Oprah​ ​Winfrey​ ​have​ ​taken​ ​to​ ​meditation​ ​to​ ​improve​ ​their​ ​lives.​ ​​ ​While​ ​a​ ​game​ ​of​ ​foosball​ ​and​ ​a​ ​beer might​ ​distract​ ​you​ ​from​ ​your​ ​work​ ​enough​ ​to​ ​briefly​ ​relieve​ ​stress,​ ​it​ ​does​ ​not​ ​address​ ​the​ ​problem.

Olark’s​ ​article,​ ​​“It’s​ ​2017​ ​and​ ​Mental​ ​Health​ ​Is​ ​Still​ ​an​ ​Issue​ ​In​ ​The​ ​Workplace”​​ ​explains​ ​perfectly​ ​the problem​ ​at​ ​hand,​ ​“We​ ​are​ ​in​ ​a​ ​knowledge​ ​economy.​ ​Our​ ​jobs​ ​require​ ​us​ ​to​ ​execute​ ​at​ ​peak​ ​mental performance.​ ​When​ ​an​ ​athlete​ ​is​ ​injured​ ​they​ ​sit​ ​on​ ​the​ ​bench​ ​and​ ​recover.​ ​Let’s​ ​get​ ​rid​ ​of​ ​the​ ​idea that​ ​somehow​ ​the​ ​brain​ ​is​ ​different.”

This​ ​is​ ​why​ ​meditation​ ​is​ ​so​ ​useful​ ​in​ ​a​ ​company​ ​setting: ​​

​When​ ​our​ ​jobs​ ​require​ ​more​ ​from​ ​us mentally​ ​we​ ​need​ ​a​ ​way​ ​to​ ​find​ ​balance.​ ​​ ​Meditation​ ​reduces​ ​stress,​ ​anxiety,​ ​and​ ​increases​ ​focus​ ​and productivity.​ ​​ ​​ ​In​ ​this​ ​way,​ ​Meditation​ ​encourages​ ​balance​ ​in​ ​one’s​ ​life.​ ​​ ​It​ ​gives​ ​one​ ​time​ ​to​ ​rejuvenate and​ ​recover​ ​from​ ​the​ ​tasks​ ​at​ ​hand.​ ​​ ​​ ​With​ ​this​ ​mental​ ​space​ ​and​ ​clarity,​ ​efficiency​ ​is​ ​born.

Furthermore,​ ​meditation​ ​can​ ​create​ ​intrinsic​ ​motivation​ ​and​ ​an​ ​ability​ ​to​ ​focus​ ​on​ ​one’s​ ​goals​ ​without becoming​ ​overwhelmed​ ​and​ ​stressed.​ ​​ ​​ ​It​ ​offers​ ​a​ ​sort​ ​of​ ​drive​ ​and​ ​vision​ ​that​ ​may​ ​possibly​ ​have​ ​been lacking​ ​before.​ ​​ ​It​ ​doesn’t​ ​stop​ ​here,​ ​meditation​ ​improves​ ​one’s​ ​creativity​.  Creative​ ​employees​ ​are innovative​ ​employees.​ ​​ ​Meditation​ ​can​ ​even​ ​improve​ ​team​ ​bonding​ ​and​ ​client​ ​relations​ ​because​ ​of​ ​its ability​ ​to​ ​reduces​ ​conflict​ ​by​ ​taming​ ​tempers.

While​ ​this​ ​may​ ​sound​ ​like​ ​a​ ​sales​ ​pitch​ ​for​ ​meditation,​ ​I​ ​implore​ ​you​ ​to​ ​do​ ​your​ ​own​ ​research​ ​on​ ​how meditation​ ​can​ ​improve​ ​your​ ​own​ ​life.​ ​​ ​After​ ​all,​ ​meditation​ ​is​ ​accessible​ ​to​ ​everyone,​ ​everywhere,​ ​at any​ ​time.​ ​​ ​​ ​Once​ ​you​ ​see​ ​the​ ​benefits​ ​it​ ​has​ ​created​ ​in​ ​your​ ​own​ ​life,​ ​imagine​ ​a​ ​whole​ ​office​ ​full​ ​of happy​ ​and​ ​peaceful​ ​employees.​ ​​ ​What​ ​does​ ​this​ ​company​ ​look​ ​like?​ ​Prosperous!?​ ​Meditation​ ​health and​ ​wellness​ ​programs​ ​help​ ​companies​ ​get​ ​to​ ​this​ ​place.

Working​ ​somewhere​ ​that​ ​doesn’t​ ​have​ ​a​ ​program?​ ​Do​ ​your​ ​research.​ ​​ ​Than​ ​reach​ ​out​ ​to​ ​your​ ​human resources​ ​department​ ​with​ ​a​ ​proposal.​ ​Want​ ​to​ ​implement​ ​a​ ​program​ ​for​ ​your​ ​company?​ ​​