The need to create cultures where employees have avenues to enhance their health and well-being has been moving towards a tipping point. Even with limited resources, organizations would do well to invest in stress management, as it is the issue that negatively impacts obesity, chronic disease, absenteeism, presenteeism, mood disorders such as anxiety and depression and interpersonal conflict.
By its nature, mindfulness programming addresses the mental and physical health of employees. Neuroscience has repeatedly shown that it changes the function and even structure of the brain, after 6-8 weeks of regular practice. As a brain training, mindfulness builds neural connections that enhance the brain’s ability to think objectively, maintain focus and get out of autopilot to creatively problem solve and innovate. At the same time, mindful meditation decreases the activity in the emotion center to help people feel calmer and more in control of their feelings and related behaviors.
At this point in time, mindfulness has been growing not only in the cultures of the corporate sector with companies like Genentech, General Mills, Target and Sun Life Financial, but also in other arenas such as educational settings and non-profit worksites. To better share the research and the nuts and bolts of mindfulness programming, the 2nd Annual Mindfulness in Business Conference will be held Sept 9th In Concord, NH. For more info and to register click here.