How to Prevent Employee Burnout: Meditation in the Workplace
When was the last time you got together with friends on for a happy hour or Pickleball game, and no one complained about feeling burnt out from their job?
91% of Americans report having an unmanageable amount of stress at work, and nearly 70% of professionals feel that employers aren’t doing enough to prevent and alleviate burnout (Deloitte)
What is burnout anyways and why is it so common? Burnout manifests as mental and physical fatigue that happens over a prolonged period of high stress. It leads to symptoms like brain fog, impaired decision-making, and can even exacerbate underlying mental health conditions like depression and anxiety.
According to the University of Chicago, employees experiencing mental distress cost, nearly $3,000 more in health care services per year than their peers. The cost of sick days averages $4,783 per year per employee, and the cost of turnover averages $5,733 per year per employee. Multiply that by the number of employees you have and it may be cheaper to bring back the kombucha on tap... if only this could solve the workplace mental health crisis. The good news? Meditation just might.
Here are 3 ways meditation can benefit your employees and reduce workplace stress:
Mediation is scientifically proven to prevent burnout by rewiring the brain to manage and reduce stress. Even when done for just 5 minutes per day, meditation increases gray matter levels in the brain leading to cognitively healthier minds over time.
By training the mind to come back to a single focal point, people learn to focus for longer periods of time which improves productivity and decision-making. This helps your employees to be more effective with their time, leaving room for needed breaks throughout the day.
Meditation boosts kindness and compassion. Employees may have more capacity to help each other with projects and deadlines improving camaraderie and company culture.
Corporate America loves to talk about ROI, so if having happier, more productive, and compassionate employees isn’t enough, check out this Mental Health Cost Calculator that estimates employers spend on average $15,000 for every employee experiencing symptoms of burnout.
Here are a few ways you can start incorporating meditation into your workplace today:
Partner with a meditation app to offer as a benefit (Calm, Balance and Headspace are great options)
Block off time on the company calendar in the mornings and have a professional lead a guided meditation or energizing yoga class.
Encourage employees to meditate and log their progress on their own - many corporate meditation programs offer self-guided meditation. Offer an incentive like a a free month at a fitness studio to help your employees stay motivated!
If you’re thinking about ways to prevent burnout and explore wellness offerings for your team, I’d love to hear from you! Contact me at yogabyliv@gmail.com for a free employee wellness consultation. While meditation is just one way to prevent burnout, whatever method you choose is a great first step towards a healthier and more productive team.
