Mindful Mondays: How You Can Encourage Mindfulness At Work

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Written by Trisha Bhullar

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So you came across an article about practicing mindfulness at work, and you gave it a shot. It turned out so good that you just want others to experience it as well. After all, mindfulness adopted by one person is great for their personal work experience, but mindfulness adopted by a team could revolutionize an entire work culture. Here’s a couple of steps you can take to encourage mindfulness at work, without coming across as too preachy! 

 

#1 BE A ROLE MODEL

Practice what you preach. If you say that mindfulness has made you a level-headed person, then demonstrate your level-headedness instead of just talking about it. Mindfulness isn’t about demanding others to adopt a practice. Rather, it’s about guiding yourself towards clarity — and in this process, inadvertently attracting others to achieve the same level-headedness. 

 

#2 PROMOTE EMPATHY

During team discussions, calmly acknowledge other people’s perspectives. It’s even more effective if you can acknowledge that you understand how your actions/words are viewed in their eyes. This process of non-judgmentally discussing the present situation could inspire others to do the same. 

 

#3 ASSIST THEM IN THEIR MINDFULNESS JOURNEYS

Do not intrude in others’ lives and send them unsolicited advice about mindfulness. If someone is inspired, they will come to you. Whether it is questions about resources, exercises or mindsets, answer them with a balance of objectivity and personal insight. If you truly want to integrate mindfulness tools into your team’s work-style, try some mindful office tools. A Timeqube, for example, is a mindful time-tracker that unobtrusively keeps your team on track. It’s practical, boosts productivity, and is a great way to introduce mindfulness to your team! 

 

#4 HELP OTHERS SEE THE WORLD AS YOU SEE IT

Mindfulness is about living in the present and simply acknowledging what it offers. Whether it’s noting a colleague’s emotions or even a change in office equipment, acknowledge the environment that surrounds you. You could even occasionally verbalize these thoughts to a team member, helping them see the world as you do. By sharing your mindful mindset, you’re helping others see a version of mindfulness unique to yourself, which could inspire them to craft a version unique to themselves. 

Disclaimer: always bear in mind the context, and do not do this too regularly as it could just be uncomfortable for others! 

 

#5 SUGGEST MINDFUL MEETINGS

When given an opportunity to lead meetings, allocate the first few minutes to setting intentions, acknowledging team members and taking a couple of deep breaths to promote focus. It might seem strange to others, but once they feel the clarity, productivity, and focus of a mindful meeting, they’ll be much more receptive to future mindfulness exercises! 

 

WE LOVE YOUR ATTITUDE! 

Practicing mindfulness itself is a hefty task, so your desire to encourage mindfulness at work is simply inspiring! It might be a difficult journey, but with a little time and effort, you could make a real change.