{"id":18208,"date":"2018-06-26T09:37:34","date_gmt":"2018-06-26T14:37:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.paperdirect.com\/blog\/?p=18208"},"modified":"2018-06-26T09:37:34","modified_gmt":"2018-06-26T14:37:34","slug":"mindfulness-into-your-workplace","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.paperdirect.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/mindfulness-into-your-workplace\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Integrate Mindfulness Into Your Workplace"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-18209\" src=\"https:\/\/www.paperdirect.com\/blog\/media\/mindfulness-in-the-workplace-1.png\" alt=\"mindfulness-in-the-workplace\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.paperdirect.com\/blog\/media\/mindfulness-in-the-workplace-1.png 600w, https:\/\/www.paperdirect.com\/blog\/media\/mindfulness-in-the-workplace-1-300x200.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Office managers across the globe focus on creating workplaces free of unnecessary stress and anxiety for their employees. One effective strategy that\u2019s making headlines and dominating workplace training seminars is implementing mindfulness activities into the day. Being mindful, or fully present and aware in the moment, creates a sense of calm and increased awareness.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why is Mindfulness in the Workplace Important?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With deadlines, projects goals, and office tension weighing down employees each day, it\u2019s important to give them the tools to relieve stress and release negative thoughts and worry. Hello, mindfulness activities! <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedaily.com\/releases\/2016\/03\/160310141455.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Science Daily<\/span><\/i><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> reported on research from Case Western Reserve University that indicates mindfulness in the workplace helps the staff:<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Improve focus and attention on tasks<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Manage stressful situations effectively<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Work productively with others in groups situations or during one-on-one interactions<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Be more empathetic and compassionate leaders<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Would these benefits make a difference in your office culture? <\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4 Ways to Incorporate Mindfulness into the Workplace<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fostering a more present and focused staff doesn\u2019t require sending each employee to a special training seminar. Instead, try a few of these activities and watch for a shift in workplace satisfaction and mood.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><b>1. Offer lunch break yoga classes.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Whether you invite a certified instructor to the boardroom or partner with a nearby studio, hosting free yoga classes will help your staff physically unwind and mentally reset their focus though controlled stretching, breathing exercises, and guided meditation.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inquire about gentle yoga, chair yoga, or a yin practice to accommodate a range of physical abilities in the office. There are many modifications for those who worry about getting on a yoga mat. If you can close your eyes and breathe, you can do yoga! <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><b>2. Create a quiet room.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Sometimes we just want to take our afternoon break in a serene area away from ringing phones and office conversations. This getaway room should have a no-cellphone policy and focus on relaxation. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A large fish task to admire, soothing music to encourage meditation, a small library of paperback books to read, a stack of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paperdirect.com\/stationery\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">colorful stationery<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for journaling, windows to look out at nature, and plush furniture that invites relaxing are great touches.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><b>3. Declutter the office. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Is it time to do a thorough purge and reorganization? Piles of paperwork, messy desks, and overstuffed offices create anxiety and agitation for some. So, clean up! <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Donate unneeded office supplies to a local charity, create an archive for files that don\u2019t need to be readily accessible, and encourage employees to take home the things they don\u2019t use, like that broken bike stashed behind a desk.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><b>4. Schedule weekly creative breaks. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Channeling our inner, curious child can help us break up the clutter of stress and tasks that fill our minds. Once a week, plan activities that encourage employees to get cut loose.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are some creative ideas you and your employees could do together:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paint rocks as part of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thekindnessrocksproject.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Kindness Rocks Project<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Build gingerbread houses (then enjoy them with milk)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Make <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebestideasforkids.com\/unicorn-slime\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">homemade unicorn slime<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to squish for stress relief at desks<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dress up with old Halloween costumes and taking silly photos<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Create vision boards with pictures and words cut out of magazines<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Completing a fiction writing prompt \u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Helping your staff shed the stress of the day through mindfulness opens them up to being more focused on their work tasks and satisfied with their job. If you need to stock up on colorful stationery for writing and drawing projects, browse the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paperdirect.com\/stationery\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PaperDirect online store<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> today. <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Office managers across the globe focus on creating workplaces free of unnecessary stress and anxiety for their employees. One effective<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":18209,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[204],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18208","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-helpful-resources"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.paperdirect.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18208"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.paperdirect.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.paperdirect.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.paperdirect.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.paperdirect.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18208"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.paperdirect.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18208\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18211,"href":"https:\/\/www.paperdirect.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18208\/revisions\/18211"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.paperdirect.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18209"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.paperdirect.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18208"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.paperdirect.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18208"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.paperdirect.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18208"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}