We’ve all been there. You’re having a hectic day at work. You have a big assignment due soon, and it’s stressing you out. It’s all you can think about, even before bed. You are not alone! Stress is the number one healthcare problem in the American workforce, and it’s affecting our job performance, happiness and our health.
Eighty-three percent of employees report that their job is the single greatest source of stress in their lives. While stress can’t be entirely eliminated from the workplace, employers can help reduce employees stress and improve employee health through mindfulness. But where do you begin? Here are the top ten tips to successfully implementing mindfulness training in your current wellbeing program:
1. Keep it Relevant & Adopt Early
The sooner you can get on top of employee stress, the sooner you can begin correcting it. However, just creating a program isn’t good enough; it has to meet employees where they are and show them how they can improve.
2. Enroll Leadership
Regardless of the kind of wellbeing program you are creating, having the support and participation of company leadership is essential. It demonstrates that the bosses walk the talk and take employee health seriously.
3. Be Clear About Your Goals
Everyone responds to honesty. If you’re upfront about what you want to accomplish and how you want employees to improve (and how you will help them), they will be more likely to engage.
4. Share the Science
Providing context is essential for almost any task. Showing your employees that stress reduction and wellness programs are scientifically proven to help their health, performance, relationships and even their sleep is crucial. This provides empirical evidence to prove its value.
5. Measure the ROI
While corporate wellbeing programs have shifted from being “nice to have” to “must have,” measuring outcomes is vital to the sustained success of any wellbeing initiative. Whether it’s reduction in absenteeism, improved engagement and worker happiness, or reduction in overall healthcare costs, tracking ROI makes investing in employee wellness a no-brainer.
6. Give it a Name
You can’t sell what you don’t brand! Giving your mindfulness program a name will help employees identify with and embrace the program and make your job of communicating to employees about the program easier.
7. Make it Routine
Allow people to take short mindfulness breaks around the office. An employee seeing their colleagues engaging in the program normalizes the practice and makes it part of the company’s culture. Consider scheduling recurring mindfulness training sessions and invite a group to participate together.
8. Find Your Champions
Having only the wellness coordinator publicize the program is not enough. Recruit passionate employees to be your “champions” to spread the message across all levels of your organization.
9. Don’t Assume Employees Will Just “Get it”
Make sure your employees understand the value of mindfulness and repeat it over and over across multiple channels.
10. Keep it Secular
Mindfulness practices are sometimes seen through a spiritual lens. While some will appreciate this aspect, others may be turned off by it. Focus on the positive and practical health aspects of yoga and meditation.