These non-insurance services are provided by Humana Wellness.

GCHJNFCEN 0616

The Humana Wellness Values Report Series

4

Mindfulness: A new approach toward better employee well-being

The active practice of “mindfulness” has been captivating U.S. employers and the broader general public in recent years. Google, for example, holds “mindful lunches,” conducted in silence except for the ringing of prayer bells, which began after a Zen Buddhist monk visited in 2011.1 Mindfulness is a trend that is continuing to grow in popularity among employers: According to one estimate, 22 percent of Fortune 500 employers have offered mindfulness programs, and that number may double in 2017.2

Mindfulness is a state of purposeful and open attention to the present, enabling a person to become aware of one’s own thoughts, feelings, and physical state, and what’s going on externally around them. This state is used to help counter the effects of stress, anxiety, and other negative emotions.3 However, mindfulness can do more than assisting with mental and emotional health; it has also been observed to help individuals moderate unhealthy behaviors such as smoking and overeating.4,5

Research shows that “investing in reflection, openness, and thoughtfulness will have a positive impact on employees and on the bottom line.”6 Notably, mindfulness first became a trend in Silicon Valley, a mini-industry known for its hectic, high-tech culture. Mindfulness serves as a counterweight to many of the pitfalls of our fast-paced, modern world, which often forces workers to multitask, operate against tight deadlines, and make constant decisions about priorities and next actions steps.

But mindfulness doesn’t just help with feelings of stress; employing the art can help people to stop and think about why they’re eating donuts, drinking excessively at night, or engaging in other unhealthy behaviors.7 Mindfulness can be used in virtually any situation and can help individuals be their best. In other words, it can become another powerful resource for boosting the overall well-being of employees. And organizations with healthier, less stressed employees have the opportunity to enhance the bottom line due to improved productivity, employee retention, and possibly even lowered healthcare claims.

Why individuals (and organizations) benefit from mindfulness

A list: How to craft a more mindful workplace

Wondering how mindfulness and other methods can help your employees become healthier?

Pushing employees to be “on” nonstop is actually counterproductive. Humans need the occasional break to be able to reflect on what’s happening and on how they’re feeling. To help your employees perform their best both at work and home, consider how you can incorporate mindfulness into your overall well-being programming or challenge your wellness provider to bring mindfulness training to your business. Brainstorm with your wellness team to think of ways that bring the value of mindfulness to all facets of your business. Here are some suggestions on how you can forge a workplace ideal for mindful individuals.

To learn about wellness programs that can improve the overall well-being of your employees, visit humana.com/employer.

Make it a policy to build breaks into longer meetings (on all levels of an organization, including town halls)

Carve out spaces in the physical workplace whose only purpose is to help employees relax, such as meditation rooms or quiet lounges with sofas, armchairs, and hammocks

If possible, encourage teams to institute “meeting-free” blocks in their schedules to allow them the chance to focus on one thing at a time once in a while

People don’t need to sit completely still to be mindful; providing walkable areas allows employees to engage in mindfulness and to be more physically active at the same time!

Offer ways for employees to learn more about and how to practice mindfulness, such as meditation classes and mindfulness technique lessons

TAKE A BREAK

Sources1 Noah Shachtman. “In Silicon Valley, Meditation Is No Fad. It Could Make Your Career.” Wired.com, posted June 18, 2013, accessed May 4, 2016.

http://www.wired.com/2013/06/meditation-mindfulness-silicon-valley/2 Jen Wieczner. “Meditation Has Become A Billion-Dollar Business.” Fortune.com, posted March 2016, accessed April 2016.3 Davis & Hayes, What are the benefits of mindfulness? Monitor on Psychology. July/August 2012, Vol 43, No. 74 Linda Wasmer Andrews. “Can Mindfulness Help You Quit Smoking?” Psychology Today, posted April 5, 2012, accessed June 3, 2016.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/minding-the-body/201204/can-mindfulness-help-you-quit-smoking5 Pavel G. Somov. “Understanding Emotional Eating.” Psych Central, posted November 2011, accessed June 3, 2016.

http://blogs.psychcentral.com/mindful-living/2011/05/understanding-emotional-eating/6 Kimberly Schaufenbuel. “Why Google, Target, and General Mills Are Investing in Mindfulness.” December 28, 2015, accessed June 3, 2016.

https://hbr.org/2015/12/why-google-target-and-general-mills-are-investing-in-mindfulness7 Shana Lebowitz. “A psychiatrist says this is the best way to break a bad habit.” Business Insider, February 21, 2016, accessed June 3, 2016.

http://www.businessinsider.com/psychiatrist-mindfulness-is-the-best-way-to-break-a-bad-habit-2016-2These non-insurance services are provided by Humana Wellness.

GCHJNFCEN 0616