Mindfulness in the Work Place (PDF)

Seminar paper from the year 2019 in the subject Sport - Sport Economics, Sport Management, grade: 1,7, Sport Academy Cologne, language: English, abstract: This work provides an overview of the practice of mindfulness with an emphasis on incorporating this valuable skill in the business context, helping employees to reduce stress as well as to promote health and well being. Conscious attention to the present moment in a receptive way is known as mindfulness. A growing body of research indicates that mindfulness can be taught and cultivated to improve physical and mental health, which can also be promising in the business or economical context. Still there is the need for further research in that area. Additionally, the use of the practice of mindfulness in businesses may lead to the misuse of the technique for gain and profit, rather than for it's original purpose - to create well-being and mental health.

Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction offers a program, which is adapted to today's requirements, to reduce stress and to facilitate mental health and well being. Especially in the corporate world, there is a vast potential of improvement, regarding the often times high demands of the jobs. MBSR programs can be integrated in business on a regular basis or on a retreat basis, which can advance the atmosphere and the productivity. Additionally there is a great possibility of a lower rate of sick employees.

Globalization, capitalism, quickly changing working environments, instability and newer and easier ways of communication have profoundly changed the way of the working world and society. Changes in working environments have always had an impact on individuals, but todays needs of adaption on the quickly moving business world result more frequently in mental stress. Even "healthy" employees feel this constant pressure and start losing their enjoyment with their profession.

Thanks to Jon Kabat-Zinn, who started in the mid 1970's with the development and implementation of his mindfulness-based Stress reduction program (MBSR), 17.000 patients have already found treatment for their psychological stress in Kabat-Zinns's facilities in the USA with mindfulness being the central aspect of the program. And by now, Mindfulness-based stress reduction has made its way into medical institutions all over the world (Kabat-Zinn, 2011). It became clear that "mindfulness as a therapeutic principle" " (Michalak et al., 2012) might also be an effective method for workplace health promotion and burnout treatment.