The Problem
Mindfulness ideas and practices are still relatively new to the workforce today. With the addition of multicultural and multigenerational aspects, the solutions to adequate mindfulness techniques may still elude certain companies. Some companies may not understand that their practices aren’t representative of their employee makeup, which can lead to workers feeling unseen or unheard. The consequences of this are an emotional unbalance and a lower emotional presence.
Employees may begin feeling overwhelmed as they start to feel that work isn’t an emotionally safe space. The more a company tries to drown out their voices, the more they feel like their presences don’t matter, that their well-being doesn’t matter.
So, to begin dealing with the problem for those that aren’t really sure how to solve it, we at MeTime Healing provide a workshop that is designed to foster emotional balance and presence using inclusive mindfulness techniques that honor each identity and background.
Workshop Solutions
- Breathing Techniques
Starting with breathing and meditation exercises is a good way to ease people into their mindfulness journey. It’s an appropriate method because it promotes awareness, calmness, release, and acceptance all within a matter of minutes. It’s an excellent stress-reducor where discrimination can’t hope to play a part, and allows everyone to slow down for a bit. Not to mention that meditation has been commonly associated with an increase in brain activity and a delay in brain degeneration.
- Grounding Yourself
Sometimes work can be stressful, so it’s important to occasionally remind yourself of who you are. Grounding yourself can be done by honing in on your five senses. Engage with each sense and be where your feet are. This will teach more emotional regulation, and can lead to lesser feelings of stress and overwhelmingness.
- Wellbeing 5 a Day
You can teach mindfulness by encouraging people to follow something called a Wellbeing 5 a Day. Everyday, you should connect, be active, take notice, learn, and give. Doing these activities daily can seem like a burden, but it’s okay. The connection doesn’t have to be crazy. You can just talk to a friend, a family member, or a neighbor. You can be active and take notice by journaling, you can learn a new word a day, and even small gestures such as holding the door open are acts of kindness that give other people hope that kindness still exists. What’s important is not stressing as you try to complete your 5 a Day, as everyone’s mindfulness journey is different.
- Progressive Muscle Relaxation
Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) is another useful mindfulness technique. You either stay seated or lie down and, starting from your toes and up , you tense different muscle groups and release with deep exhales. This technique promotes a relaxing a feeling. It can be hard to notice all the stress you may be carrying, and this exercise helps to release that tension.
What to Do Now
As you continue thinking of ways to support your workforce, remember to keep emotional balance and emotional presence at the forefront of your thoughts. Again, it’s not easy navigating what we have today, so continue to ask questions, and learn as much as you can.
For more information on our workshops, visit here.
