The benefits of meditation are incredible when it comes to physical, mental, and emotional health.
According to the US Chamber of Commerce, the top two chronic health conditions driving health-related costs for employers are depression and obesity. Add to that their finding that 60% of employers who offer workplace wellness said the programs reduced their corporate health care costs and the case for meditation in the office becomes even stronger.
Learn about five ways meditation can help your employees and boost your bottom line right now.
More clarity and focus.
In a study led by Harvard researchers, MRI scans showed that meditation decreased gray matter density in the amygdala, the part of the brain that deals with stress and anxiety, and participants reported significant reductions in stress. Another study from University of California Santa Barbara found that undergraduates who took a two-week meditation class revealed marked reductions in mind-wandering (ya know, where your head goes when the clock strikes 4:00 pm). Less stress equals more clarity, it’s as simple as that.
Increased employee loyalty.
Because meditation helps employees feel less stressed, it reduces working hours lost to anxiety, indecision, and self-doubt. Because of this, employees are likely to feel happier and more satisfied with their jobs and lives. If an employer is the one to put this positive cycle into place it won’t go unnoticed. Employees reinvest when they’ve been invested in, and the best way to show your support for your employees’ lives is by genuinely committing to their overall well-being.
Improved communication.
Leave it to Harvard to confirm that people who are stressed out have a harder time organizing their thoughts. In today’s hyper-collaborative professional world, poor communication can be more than an annoyance — it can be a deal-breaker. Meditation helps employees sort through their heads to identify important ideas from nagging worries. It’s not just about ignoring certain thoughts, it’s about having the tools necessary to acknowledge them and quietly, purposefully move on.
Decreased absenteeism due to illness.
Research from the University of Paris Descartes states that the benefits of physical activity and exercise are enhanced with a meditation practice. There is a direct correlation between what’s happening in the mind and what’s going on in the body, and the sooner people can see and foster that connection, the happier and healthier (and more productive) they’ll be. What does this mean for you as an employer? Less money lost to sick days and spent on health care.
Increased productivity.
People who meditate are more open to handling difficult situations, whether that’s a hectic home life, a day of back-to-back meetings, or a brainstorming session to develop the next big thing. Productivity takes a hit when employees are stuck worrying. Stress creates patterns that lead to isolation and inefficiency, but meditation can help break through all of that. A quick, simple meditation helps employees find calm and balance even in the most chaotic circumstances.
Think about it: What can a little meditation do for your team, your company, and your annual goals?
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