Mindfulness is a buzzword you’ve surely heard a lot about lately, but what exactly is it? How can it help you as a beauty or wellness professional? We’ve gathered everything you need to know about the basics of mindfulness and how it can help you increase productivity, your bottom line, as well as the morale in the salon or spa.
How Mindfulness Affects Productivity
The most common assumptions about mindfulness include ideas like “slowing down,” or “being in the moment.” Additionally, many assume that mindfulness means sitting still and doing nothing but watching your breath go in and out.
Let’s break down these misconceptions. Simply put, mindfulness is the ability to be fully present and aware of each moment. More specifically, maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and the surrounding environment, through a gentle and nurturing lens.
Practicing mindfulness is a way to keep our brains healthy, to support self-regulation and effective decision-making capabilities, and to protect ourselves from chronic stress. A recent study on the effects of mindfulness on productivity found that those trained in mindful-based meditationstayed on tasks longer, made fewer task switches, and reported less negative emotion after performing and completing a task.
Wondering how mindfulness affects your bottom line? Insurance company Aetna measured the results of offering mindfulness-based training to employees and found that those who participated added roughly 60-minutes of productivity per week, which they calculated was worth about $3,000 per year, per team member.
The Positive Effects of Mindfulness
In the past decade, mindfulness has surged in popularity. However, the core of mindfulness is based on a concept founded 2,600 years ago. Despite the ancient concept, the benefits are just as valuable for the modern day. Beyond productivity, here are some more beneficial effects to developing and practicing mindfulness, including:
- Improved Well-Being. By focusing on the present moment, those who practice mindfulness find that they are happier, less likely to worry about the future or regret the past, are less preoccupied with concerns about success and self-esteem and are better able to form deep connections with others.
- Improved Physical Health. Studies show that mindfulness can help relieve stress, treat heart disease, lower blood pressure, reduce chronic pain, improve sleep, and alleviate gastrointestinal difficulties.
- Improved Mental Health. Mindfulness can help with depression, anxiety, substance abuse, relationship conflict as well as several other disorders.
- Improved Leadership. Research reveals that mindful leaders lower employees’ emotional exhaustion and are associated with employees having a better work-life balance, and overall job satisfaction.
- Improved Work Environment. Mindful employees are friendlier with co-workers, more willing to help their team, have more focus and attention, and are less affected by a stressful work environment.
A Beginner’s Guide to Mindfully Manifesting Personal and Professional Goals
The idea of mindfulness may seem overwhelming to beginners, that’s why we’ve crafted A Little Journal for Self-Success to help you jump start your mindfulness journey.
Within this book you will find:
• A reflection exercise
• The difference between intentions and goals
• How to set intentions
• A vision board exercise
• How to practice positive affirmations
This simple workbook is meant to assist you with your journey to self-love, empowerment and living mindfully. Furthermore, taking the time to look within yourself benefits not just your personal life, but your professional career, too!
