Companies like Google and Target have been offering mindfulness training to their employees since 2007 and 2010, respectively. Are they on to something? We think so.
How can mindfulness help you?
- Being mindful can help you sharpen your focus. Being mindful helps you concentrate on the task at hand and avoid unnecessary distractions.
- Mindfulness can help you improve your listening and even help you stomach criticism better. When you practice mindfulness you activate different parts of your brain, some of which help you to be less defensive. Perhaps it is because you have a clearer head and are calm. Check out these five tips for how to use mindfulness to embrace criticism.
- Mindfulness helps relieve stress. The American Institute of Stress states 40% of workers reported their job was very or extremely stressful. Take a deep breath – no, really! Take time to focus on your breathing. Even taking a few deep breaths at your desk will help you tackle your next task with clarity.
There’s no need to be overwhelmed, there are abundant resources about being mindful right at your fingertips. Do yourself a favor and start slow. Commit to a few minutes per day for a maximum of 30 days. Take note of how you feel before and after. Recently the TODAY Show, shared 5 small things you can do each morning. You can also download an app, like Calm, right to your smartphone. The app will walk you through short exercises and get your on your way to being mindful today.
Ready…take a deep breath and GO!
