The Science of Mindfulness
It is often assumed that mindfulness is in a realm of alternative or new age therapy, however this could not be further from the truth. Mindfulness is an ancient practice that has evolved into what we know today.
Clinical and scientific studies have been conducted to better understand the true benefits of incorporating mindfulness into your life.
What the research shows for the workplace
Research into neuroscience and mindfulness, demonstrates conclusively that mindfulness training leads to many and varied benefits including greater resilience, productivity and an improved ability to cope under pressure. This results in increased levels of job satisfaction and smoother employee management. Other results include:
- Enhance creativity
- Proactive work behaviours
- Improved relationships and teamwork
- Reduced levels of stress and illness related absenteeism
- Improved abilities to address conflict in the workplace
Research results for individuals
For the individual, mindfulness training can have varying results, depending on their needs and their challenges. For example some may see an increase in focus and attention and even improvement in sleep quality. Other research results include:
- Significant stress reduction
- Reduction in cellular aging
- Increase in brain agility
- Lower blood pressure
- Memory improvement
- Improved emotional regulation and consistency
- Increases our experience of joy
The science behind mindfulness shows that even though this is an act of bringing your mind into focus, your body, your relationships and your mind all benefit with lasting results.
Here are links to radio interviews, magazine and online articles, blog posts, books and studies dealing with mindfulness practices around the globe.
Mindfulness@Work
- Mindfulness, Meditation, Wellness and Their Connection to Corporate America’s Bottom Line – Huffington Post
- Working from the Inside Out – Success Magazine
- Information Overload – McKinsey Quarterly Copy
- Overloaded Circuits- Why Smart People Under Perform – Harvard Business Review
- Mindful Leadership: When East Meets West – Harvard Business School
- How practising mindfulness in the workplace can boost productivity – Personnel Today
- Alterations in Brain And Immune Functions – Davidson et al
- The Power of Concentration – New York Times
- Practising Mindful Leadership – Erika Garms
- The Next Generation of Leadership – Nalanda Leadership Excellence
Mindful Living
- Mindfulness meditation in brief daily doses can reduce negative mental health impact of COVID-19 – The Conversation
- Mindfulness treatment as effective as CBT for depression and anxiety – Neuroscience for Technology Networks
- The Benefits of Being Present – Brown and Ryan
- Former Soldier Turned Zen Monk Teaches Vets to Use Mindfulness as Body Armor – Huffington Post
- Are you committed to innovation in a meaningful way – Bangkok Post
- The Mind Revolution – Time Magazine
- More about the application of mindfulness – Carolyn Gregoire, The Huffington Post
- Can meditation help prevent the effects of ageing? – Jo Marchant, BBC
Mindful Eating
- Mindful eating the key to weight loss and feeling better – The Sydney Morning Herald, Good Food
- Cultivating Ease and Freedom When Consuming: The Case for Mindful Eating and Conscious Living – Jan Chozen Bays, MD, UCSD Center for Mindfulness
- Body has natural ‘rush-hours’, study finds – www.mindfood.com
- Brain Foods That Help You Concentrate – WebMD
- Could Practising Mindfulness Reduce Belly Fat – The Washington Post