What are meditation and mindfulness benefits?

There’s a lot going on in the world right now. With endless to-do lists and a constant barrage of digital content, it’s no wonder why so many folks are experiencing stress, anxiety, and other mental health concerns. That weight can easily be carried into the workplace — but though meditation and mindfulness benefits, employers can help lighten this load.

Mindfulness activities — like meditation or breathing exercises — help employees unplug and unwind by incorporating mindfulness into their day-to-day routines. Not only does it feel great to simply sit back and relax, but it turns out that incorporating just a few minutes of these practices into your day-to-day can lead to a more stable and balanced life.

Through these benefits, your employees can access the platforms, tools, and guidance to find a mindfulness routine that works for their lifestyle.

Employer-sponsored meditation and mindfulness benefits can include:

• Subscription to meditation classes, such as yoga or breathwork
• Access to meditation and mindfulness apps with self-guided journeys
• App memberships with access to podcasts, online libraries, and videos that focus on meditation and mindfulness
• Access to professional mindfulness coaches and counselors
• Holistic wellness programs
• Free on-site meditation sessions

Why are meditation and mindfulness benefits important for employees?

If you’re a human living on this planet, you already know that life can throw you unexpected curveballs. Heck, sometimes even the commute to the office can be stress-inducing.

Imagine your employee who puts in a long, fulfilling day at work and comes home right into the beautiful chaos of energetic toddlers — meditation might be the well-deserved mental break they need to unwind, recharge, and stave off feelings of burnout.

These benefits can also serve as a safety net for employees going through hard times and difficult life transitions. Think about the PR Director who recently lost a loved one or the Marketing Manager going through a divorce. Setting aside even just five minutes for a moment of tranquility could give them the clarity and peace of mind to keep going.

Research shows that folks who practice mindfulness experience less stress and emotional reactivity, and they tend to have better focus and cognitive abilities. Put simply, employees who take time out of their day to focus on self-care are better equipped to conquer all of life’s ups and downs, both on and off the clock.

Why should employers provide meditation and mindfulness benefits?

Americans spend a quarter to a third of their lives in the workplace. Even for those lucky enough to have our dream jobs, there are still good days and bad days. A solid mental wellness and mindfulness plan can help your employees navigate the bad days, and stay present to better appreciate the good ones.

Mindfulness exercises have even been proven to bolster an individual's level of empathy. The benefits don’t stop there — it’s also reported that mindfulness activities thicken the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and amygdala. What employer wouldn’t want employees who are just as kind as they are smart?

Decades of research continue to show us that mindfulness can have an astonishing positive impact. A prolific study at a chemical planet in the 1980s had employees meditate twice a day for six months. This small practice reduced absenteeism by 85% (!) and profits rose a colossal 520% (!!) Clearly mindfulness can have long-lasting benefits to both employee well-being and company culture.

Plus, offering these benefits can signal that mental wellness and mindfulness are a priority in your workplace — a quality that may inspire candidates to take a closer look during the hiring process. And that’s for good reason: 50% of employees report that they’ve left jobs due to mental health reasons, while 86% believe that company culture should support mental health. Maybe you can’t alleviate all the stresses that your employees face, but you can take action to help them manage it, and that alone speaks volumes about your culture.

So if you’re wondering if it is worth it to provide meditation and mindfulness benefits for your workforce, there you have it — more efficiency, a more supportive company culture, and employees who feel comfortable bringing their full selves to work. So take a deep breath, then opt into great coverage for your employees. Calmness is contagious.

What are the best meditation & mindfulness benefits providers?

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