How to Bring Meditation to Your Workplace

Meditation gets a bad rap sometimes. For many of us—especially those of us who are more goal-oriented and practically-minded—meditation has the connotation of something a little soft, a little nebulous, a little frivolous. You may not have anything against it per se, yet you may also struggle to see what kind of real-world benefits it can offer.

You’re not alone. Meditation has long been met with skepticism—yet that’s starting to change. Not only are people accepting the practical application of meditation, but they’re actually bringing it into the workplace with them. And maybe you should too.

The Benefits of Meditation

The benefits? Try improved health. Try enhanced mental clarity. Try increased productivity. Engaging in meditative practice is anything but a time-waster; it can actually help you to use the time you have much more effectively and creatively.

But how is it that meditation is so beneficial? To understand that question, think about meditation simply in terms of rest. You know that when you go to bed feeling tired and frazzled, get a solid eight hours of shut-eye, and arise in the morning, you feel restored, rejuvenated; and when you take a week-long vacation, the restorative effect can be even more pronounced.

You probably won’t meditate for a full week, nor even for eight hours, yet even a few minutes of meditation can give the mind the kind of deep, meaningful rest it needs to reset itself and tackle problems with renewed vigor and clarity. And if you meditate for 20 minutes, two times daily, that can be sufficient to reap some remarkable benefits.

Meditating at Work

The question is, how can you engage in workplace meditation—after all, there’s likely not going to be an on-staff guru to walk you through it. You don’t necessarily need a leader if you have a good meditation app, many of which you can download for free. And if you get some co-workers together, you can perhaps reserve a room for group meditation at certain points in the day—playing some soothing music, dimming the lights, perhaps even lighting a candle or two and allowing people to sit and practice mindfulness.

Once you experience the benefits, you may find yourself structuring meditation into the daily rhythms of your office life. Come to see it not as time squandered, but as time treasured—time used for something truly restorative and meaningful.

Learn more about recommended workplace practices at our ACES page!