How Meditation Enhances Workplace Wellbeing Programs

by Eva Lane

A healthy, happy workforce is essential to the success of any business. A well-designed, evidence-based workplace wellbeing program can help employees reduce stress and cultivate resilience, promote self-awareness and build community.

Unfortunately, while many health and wellbeing programs do great on physical health with plenty of healthy food ideas and fitness challenges, they often neglect the mental health component. This is a missed opportunity, as meditation has been proven to reduce stress and anxiety while improving focus, creativity and emotional intelligence.

Tip 1: Your Employees Really Want A Sense of Achievement
Tip 2: Make your Company’s Mission and Values very clear, visible and tangible
Tip 3: Meditation is not a “Break”
Tip 4: Give Your Employees More Control Over Their Working Life
Tip 5: Meditation is Not a Cure-All for Toxic Workplaces
Tip 6: Lead by Example
Tip 7: Survey your staff… Anonymously

Your Corporate Health and Wellbeing Program needs Balance

Meditation can be an invaluable tool for workplace wellbeing programs. It helps people enhance their overall health and wellbeing, reducing stress levels, improving mental clarity and focus, as well as promoting feelings of peace and relaxation.

Additionally, meditation helps people gain a better understanding of their own thoughts and emotions which can lead to improved self-awareness and better decision-making skills.

Meditation is also an excellent way to foster greater connection between colleagues in the workplace. By creating a shared experience of inner peace and calm, it can help to build trust, bridges and a sense of community in the office.

Making Meditation Part of Your Workplace Health and Wellbeing Program

By incorporating meditation into your workplace wellbeing program you will be helping employees to develop healthier habits that will benefit them both inside and outside of the office. This will increase productivity, improve morale, and create a healthier work environment overall.

Good mental health is essential for workplace wellbeing programs to be effective and meditation can help achieve this balance. It will not only promote better physical health, but also better emotional and psychological wellbeing which in turn leads to improved overall performance for the company.

By introducing meditation into your workplace wellbeing program, you are helping to create a healthier, happier environment where employees can thrive.

I offer a unique approach to Mindfulness Meditation, which can be tailored to your annual Health and Wellbeing Program’s overall objectives

I ensure that incorporating meditation into your workplace wellbeing program is simple and effective. First, I review your existing workplace wellbeing situation and objectives, and review any relevant information or feedback.

Secondly, I provide guidance on best practices for introducing mindfulness meditation into the workplace, such as providing educational sessions, organisational activities and stress management tactics.

Finally, I provide ongoing support so that your employees can continue to benefit from incorporating meditation into their daily lives. This includes workshops and access to a bank of recorded guided meditations for people to listen to on an as-needed basis.

My approach is grounded in evidence-based research, a deep understanding of the relationship between meditation, mental health and overall wellbeing, as well as years of experience in guiding people through their own mindfulness journey.

My program can help Employees reduce stress and cultivate Resilience, promote Self-Awareness and build Community among colleagues

By helping your employees to reduce stress and anxiety, improve focus and creativity, and foster connection in the workplace, I can help you create an effective workplace wellbeing program that makes sure mental health is a priority. With my help, you can ensure your workforce remains healthy, happy and productive.

Get started: Survey your Employees to find out what is working and what is not

Sending an externally-managed and 100% anonymous survey is an excellent trust signal to gain honest intelligence about where your employees’ mental health and wellbeing stands.

The free survey I offer is quick and easy for employees to complete, and is composed of questions about stress levels, morale, workloads, job satisfaction and other aspects of employee wellbeing. This information can help you to better understand the individual needs of your workforce and tailor an effective workplace wellbeing plan accordingly.

Once your team has completed the survey, I will provide a comprehensive report which will provide valuable insight into what is working and what needs improving in your workplace wellbeing program. This will help you to make informed decisions about how to best support your employees’ mental health and wellbeing needs.

Contact me to survey your people, or learn more about how meditation enhances workplace wellbeing programs.

Research into Meditation Benefits for the Workplace

Mindfulness meditation has been proven to offer many benefits that enhance workplace wellbeing programs, with a long history of research into this field.

In 1974, Dr. Herbert Benson of Harvard University revolutionized our understanding of the power of meditation to combat stress and its physical effects. Through a series of experiments on popular techniques, he released his findings in “The Relaxation Response,” which demonstrated that meditating can have real impacts on reducing stress while helping mitigate the body’s natural fight-or-flight response.

His research revealed positive implications for skin health, slower heart rates and respiration as well as decreased oxygen consumption – outcomes further bolstering support for reflective practices such as meditation today.

Later research has delved deeper, concluding that meditation in the workplace offers significant health benefits in the areas of:

Improved mental clarity and focus

Karimi et al (2019) investigated the impact of meditation on mental clarity and focus in an Australian workplace:

• Participants reported significant improvements in their mindfulness and emotional intelligence.

• Mindfulness buffered the effects of stress-related presenteeism on participants’ mental and physical health.

• Results demonstrate that meditation training can positively impact employees’ mental and physical health.

• These findings suggest that greater mindfulness and emotional intelligence skills are important tools for increasing organisational effectiveness.

Heightened emotional intelligence and creativity

Holm’s (2015) research compared the “traditional mindset” as the conscious awareness, controlled mental processes, and analytical-logical manipulation of symbols, with “alternative mindset” which refers to pre-conscious mental processes, such as associative, imaginative, meditative and intuitive thinking.

• Holm explored organisational benefits of the alternative mindset with a bi-weekly meditative practice for 144 self-selected participants in three organisations.

• Increase was observed in well-being and creativity among experimental groups compared to control groups after six sessions.

• The meditation benefits spanned from enhanced wellbeing and creative production to potentially higher employee engagement, health, relaxation and minimization of occupational stress.

• Holm concluded that continued meditation could provide individual, group and organisational advantages, such as increased productivity and engagement.

Increased stress resilience

Jung et al (2016) evaluated the effects of an 8-week online mind-body training program on participants’ stress, anger, coping strategies, emotional intelligence and resilience. Results indicated beneficial effects compared to a control group.

• The program was associated with reduced stress, enhanced coping strategies, increased emotional intelligence and enhanced resilience.

• Reduction in stress was understood as decrease in tension, frustration, anger and depression during 8 weeks.

• Improvement in psychological capabilities and well-being of participants may be related to meditation for emotional release and deep breathing to relax physical and emotional states.

• Stress resistance increased despite stressful work situations with no significant reduction in occupational stress over 8-week period.

Reduced mental fatigue

Research conducted by Taylor & Millear (2016) suggested that mindfulness is a buffer against workplace burnout.

• The study tested whether different facets of mindfulness predict the three components of burnout and found that they did.

• Mindfulness was found to remain a significant predictor even when taking into account other resources and workplace demands.

• Meditation, which increases mindfulness, was found to be an effective time and cost efficient intervention for employees and employers to prevent or intervene against burnout.

Enhanced productivity and problem-solving abilities

Penzenstadler (2020) studied a sample of software engineers who often faced a wide range of demands with an ever-increasing pace that was leading to decreased creativity and less efficiency in problem-solving.

• Penzenstadler found that engaging with mindfulness practices enhanced creativity and cognitive problem-solving skills, thus increasing efficiency, effectiveness and individual sustainability among the software engineers.

• Mindfulness practices such as yoga, breathing, and meditation helped the software engineers to increase sustainability and creativity during work tasks.

• The research suggested that that mindfulness practices can enhance team spirit as well as increased economic profit through the maintenance of human capital.

Improved team cohesion and communication

Johnson, Park and Chaudhuri (2020) conducted a literature review of 28 empirical studies and found that mindfulness-based training is an effective intervention in organizations to improve mental health, wellbeing and performance of employees.

• The review found that group and team-related outcomes include community, cohesion, social support, team climate and cooperation.

• Mindfulness training can improve relationships between members by helping individualise emotions, as well as recognising each person’s strengths and weaknesses.

• Meditation can also reduce social undermining and conflict between members.

The research on workplace wellness programs is conclusive: Meditation improves mental health, helps to build resilience and contributes to greater productivity

Meditation makes all the difference in an effective wellbeing program, as it enables employees to manage stress, reduces mental fatigue, enhances productivity and problem-solving abilities, and improves team cohesion and communication.

Employers who are serious about improving workplace mental health can invest in mindfulness programs that use meditation techniques to help their employees succeed. Investing in such programs can not only benefit the employee but also the organisation as a whole by enhancing productivity and engagement at work. Therefore, investing in a quality workplace wellbeing program is essential for an organisation’s long-term success.

Happier employees equals higher productivity, better communication and increased job satisfaction. Mindful meditation can provide a valuable resource for workplace mental health, enabling employees to manage stress levels and improve their overall wellbeing. Employers should consider the benefits of mindfulness interventions as part of their workplace wellness programs.

Bringing meditation into your health and wellbeing programs offers significant advantages such as increased productivity, improved problem-solving abilities and enhanced team cohesion

Investing in employee mental health reaps tangible long-term rewards. Investing in mindfulness interventions is an effective way to promote wellbeing in the workplace and ultimately create healthier work environments.

Mindfulness practices such as meditation are increasingly being used in the workplace to improve employee wellbeing and performance. Studies have shown that by engaging with mindfulness, employees can benefit from improved stress resilience, reduced mental fatigue, enhanced productivity and problem-solving abilities, as well as increased team cohesion and communication. By implementing a mindful approach to work tasks, employers can reduce occupational stress while also helping their workforce increase creativity and cognitive skills.

As such, meditation and mindfulness is a valuable tool to improve workplace mental health and wellbeing.

The key to improving employee wellbeing and promoting a positive team environment lies in the implementation of meditation into workplace wellness programs. Studies have consistently shown that mindfulness-based interventions in the workplace can improve mental health, increase productivity, enhance problem-solving abilities, reduce stress levels, and cultivate greater team cohesion and communication.

My tips on how you can work meditation into your employee wellbeing program, right now:

Incorporating meditation into existing wellbeing programs can be beneficial for organisations that wish to provide their employees with effective tools to manage stress and enhance performance. Here are some of my best tips on how to integrate meditation into a workplace wellness program:

Tip 1: Your Employees Really Want A Sense of Achievement

Many employers and managers tend to focus on getting the job done as quickly and efficiently as possible, but what they often forget is that employees need more than just a paycheck. The average worker wants to derive a sense of accomplishment from their job; it’s what gives them purpose and makes them feel valuable.

Meditating at work can be an effective way of helping employees find purpose in the workplace by boosting their sense of achievement and fulfillment. Research shows that regular meditators are more focused, less stressed, have improved problem-solving skills, and are better able to manage their emotions. All of these benefits can make a huge difference in how employees interact with each other and with clients — creating a more productive working environment where everyone feels like they are achieving something meaningful.

Not only does meditation help employees achieve more at work but it also encourages healthy lifestyle habits such as quitting smoking or getting flu shots regularly. It can also encourage healthier choices when it comes to eating habits by introducing mindfulness into meal times or promoting healthy snacks instead of processed foods. It can even lead employees towards taking public transportation instead of driving or getting fresh air during lunch breaks rather than staying at their desks all day long.

Businesses who want to implement meditation in the workplace should consider investing in corporate wellness services that focus on mindfulness training such as guided meditations led by experienced professionals who specialise in this area (contact me). Such services can be tailored specifically for each company based on its needs and budget so that everyone can benefit from them without having to worry about any extra costs associated with implementing these types of programs within an organisation.

Meditation is an incredibly powerful tool for both personal growth and organizational success; not only does it help employees achieve more at work but it also encourages healthier lifestyle habits which promote overall wellbeing. By investing in corporate wellness services that focus on mindfulness training such as yoga classes or guided meditations led by experienced professionals, companies will be able to ensure that every employee is able to derive a sense of achievement from their work — leading to increased productivity and satisfaction in both employers and employees alike. With meditation as part of your business culture, everybody wins.

Tip 2: Make your company’s mission and values very clear, visible and tangible

Everyone wants their company to be successful – but how do you make sure it stays that way? One of the best ways to ensure success is by having a clear mission and values.

A strong mission statement can keep employees motivated, help team members understand what the company stands for, and provide guidance when making decisions. It also serves as a cornerstone for any corporate wellness program.

The first step is to create a set of core values that everyone in the business understands, and agree on the actions that uphold the values. These actions should be reflected in everything from recruiting practices to day-to-day operations.

Once you have established your mission and values within your organisation, it’s time to reward those who demonstrate them on a daily basis. This could mean offering small rewards such as gift cards or vouchers for employees who go above and beyond expectations or simply recognise those who contribute most effectively in team meetings or tasks.

You could even organise team events such as guided meditation workshops (contact me) or retreats offsite to provide your employees with an opportunity to unwind away from the office environment.

By encouraging a positive attitude towards work through these rewards systems, you’ll find that you attract the best talent as well as retain existing staff members for longer periods of time due to job satisfaction.

It’s clear that having a well-defined mission statement is essential for any business looking to implement a corporate wellness program – especially if they want meditation in the workplace to have a strong business benefit.

Tip 3: Meditation is not a “Break”

Hear the word “meditation” and you likely picture someone sitting cross-legged on the floor with their eyes closed, immersed in stillness.

While this image of meditation is certainly part of it, there is so much more to it than that. Meditation can indeed be a powerful tool to help your workforce achieve objectives — in fact, it’s become one of the most popular methods for increasing productivity and focus, sparking new ideas and inspiring creative solutions.

I want to bust the myth of meditation being a “break-time” tool. It is a wellbeing tool. It is a creativity tool. It is a focus tool. Meditation can provide a range of benefits for your business—here are just a few:

Improved Productivity

Studies have found that employees who practice regular meditation report higher levels of job satisfaction, increased morale and improved productivity at work. This makes sense; when you’re calmer and more focused, you’re likely to be able to get more done in a shorter amount of time.

Increasing Focus

Research has also found that those who practice regular meditation are better able to concentrate on tasks for longer periods of time without becoming distracted or overwhelmed by competing thoughts or emotions. This means that employees will be less likely to procrastinate or become easily distracted — which can lead to greater efficiency across the organization as a whole.

New Ideas

Finally, research suggests that regular meditation can help to spark creative thinking and inspire employees. Not only can this help to create innovative solutions for existing problems, but it can also open up opportunities for business growth that may not have been previously considered.

We often take meditation as being something that is done solely for personal benefit when there’s actually a lot more potential here than meets the eye. When leveraged correctly within an organisational setting, such as through workplace wellbeing programs or employee engagement initiatives, meditation can be used as a powerful tool for helping teams reach predetermined goals faster and better while also boosting morale and creating strong connections between colleagues.

Tip 4: Give Your Employees More Control Over Their Working Life

Providing your employees with more control over their work life balance can improve their wellbeing, make them feel valued, and lead to increased productivity.

How can you ensure that your people are getting a good balance between their work and personal life without compromising on productivity? Here are some ideas:

Offer Flexible Working Hours

By giving employees the ability to choose when they work best – e.g., early morning or late at night – you are giving them a sense of autonomy and allowing them to create a better work life balance that suits their individual needs. This can help alleviate stress levels, provide them with more free time to focus on other activities outside of work and ultimately lead to higher engagement rates at work.

Encourage Regular Breaks

It is important for employees to take regular breaks throughout the day in order to stay focused and motivated. Encouraging regular breaks not only helps boost morale but also leads to a healthier lifestyle as employees are getting up from their desks more often than usual. This could be anything from a fifteen-minute coffee break or even a longer lunch break for those who need it.

Implement a Holistic Employee Wellness Program

Implementing a holistic employee wellness program is another great way to give your employees more control over their work life balance. Programs such as meditation sessions (contact me) or yoga classes can help reduce stress levels and provide your employees with the support they need in order for them to perform well both inside and outside of the office. Additionally, these programs can be tailored specifically towards the needs of your team so that everyone feels comfortable participating in them.

Giving your employees more control over their work life balance is essential in creating a healthier and happier workplace environment while still remaining productive. By offering flexible working hours, encouraging regular breaks, and implementing an employee wellness program that balances mind, body and spirit – you can achieve this goal while ensuring that all of your team members feel valued and appreciated by your business.

Tip 5: Meditation is Not a Cure-All for Toxic Workplaces

Meditation can improve a team’s mental health, but it is important to remember that it does not have the power to ‘fix’ a toxic workplace.

It’s important to understand that certain people have a tendency to spread toxicity throughout an organisation or team – like a rotten apple spoiling the whole pie, and no amount of meditation or mindfulness can fix that.

These people tend to be resistant to change and may even be actively undermining your best efforts at improvement. Look out for employee absenteeism and increased sick days in teams surrounding these people. In extreme cases, they can lead to resignations or even lawsuits if left unchecked.

These individuals should not be confused with employees who are simply struggling with stress or mental ill health due to their working conditions – these are two very different scenarios which require different approaches from management.

While workplace meditation programs can help employees struggling with poor mental health, they won’t necessarily work in cases where there are entrenched problems which require systemic changes within the organization itself.

If you suspect that your workforce has been infiltrated by a ‘rotten apple’ then it’s essential that you take swift action before things get out of hand. This could involve implementing an Employee Assistance Program or introducing formal policies around workplace behaviour.

Some organisations also employ external HR consultants who can provide specialist advice on how to handle difficult situations involving staff members who may not be pulling their weight or behaving ethically in their positions.

Tip 6: Lead by Example

Leadership sets the tone for any organisation, so it’s important that executives lead by example and demonstrate the values they want their employees to uphold such as work life balance whenever possible – both in interactions with co workers and communication throughout the company as a whole.

Leading by example means taking an active role in reinforcing positive habits, such as dedicating time each day to meditate. Guided meditation is not just limited to the traditional office environment either. For companies who have large warehouses or manufacturing plants, guided meditation can be beneficial during set times.

As an executive team, it’s important that you set boundaries between work and home life so that you don’t become overwhelmed with work-related tasks outside of regular office hours. This will send a message to co-workers that their mental health is valued and that they should not feel obligated to constantly be available outside of their normal working hours. This will also help foster an environment where everyone feels comfortable.

To promote work life balance within your organization, one of the most important things you can do is provide supportive resources for your employees, and use them yourself. Whether it’s providing access to an employee assistance program or offering guided meditations for the workplace (contact me), making sure that your staff members have access to helpful resources can go a long way in helping them achieve a healthy work life balance.

Showing your people that there is value in taking care of themselves both inside and outside of work will take your team performance up another level.

Tip 7: Survey your staff… Anonymously

Treating your employees with respect and creating a safe space where they can express their feelings without fear of repercussions is key to successful employee engagement. When you create an anonymous survey, you are sending a powerful message that you value their opinions and want to ensure their emotional safety while they share their thoughts. This encourages transparency on both sides and allows employers to understand what employees need in order to feel appreciated and motivated in the workplace.

Anonymous surveys can be tailored specifically towards tracking mental health issues like stress levels, burnout rates, depression, anxiety, or any other emotion that might be affecting an employee’s productivity or wellbeing. The results of these surveys can pave the way for employers to create wellness programs tailored specifically around addressing those issues.

Furthermore, these surveys provide employers with actionable data that they can use when making decisions about how best to improve wellness goals within their organisation. By creating an anonymous survey, employers can show commitment towards taking care of their employees’ mental health and wellbeing needs while increasing morale in the workplace.

Creating an effective anonymous survey can be tricky; there are many factors involved in crafting one that yields useful information while still being respectful of the privacy of your employees.

That’s why I am here to help.

Contact me about your needs, and I will send an anonymous survey tailored specifically for your people on your behalf — for free! We can also discuss best practices for introducing mindfulness meditation into the workplace in a way that meets the unique needs of your business and everyone on your team.

My final message:

Providing access to health and wellbeing programs in the workplace is not just an add-on for employees but rather a real tangible tool that improves business outcomes.

Mindfulness meditation is an important part of any wellness program; it helps people become more aware of their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors which leads to better communication, improved relationships with colleagues, and increased productivity in the workplace.

Those who utilise meditation for their employee mental health will be able to create an environment where everyone feels respected and valued — no matter what challenges they face each day.

About Eva

Eva Lane is a Reiki Practitioner and Meditation Guide who has been working with clients since 2012 to help them find balance in their lives.

She believes that mindful meditation can be an invaluable tool for organizations looking to improve the mental health of their employees and maximise workplace wellbeing.

Eva’s mission is to provide people with practical tools and resources so that they can create positive changes in their life and work.

Eva offers workplace guided meditation programs (in-person and recorded) as well as employee workshops and speaking engagements.

Through her work, she hopes to inspire more companies to prioritise employee wellbeing by implementing effective wellness programs that focus on rectifying both physical and mental ill health.

With her expertise, you will be able to create a workplace environment where everyone feels supported and valued — no matter what challenges they face each day.

By taking advantage of Eva’s skillset, your company can reap the benefits of a happier, healthier workforce.

Contact Eva Lane today to get started on this journey of improved health and workplace wellbeing.