Too often are we succumbing to fatigue and burnout. With how much you have to juggle every day, it’s difficult to stay focused on one thing when another is just at the edge of your thoughts. Everything comes together in a headache-inducing blur that it’s difficult to focus.
How can you fix this?
Spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle once said, “Wherever you are, be there totally.” The idea of being present and actively acknowledging the task at hand eliminates other intrusive thoughts from distracting you. This is what we call mindfulness—being totally present and noticing when our minds are wandering in order to pull back.
Mindfulness in business is especially important as business owners and employees can suffer from being overwhelmed. Being mindful of your own tasks and thoughts can ultimately help you ground yourself, leading to productivity.
An example of mindfulness in the workplace is how the CEO of Aetna, an American health care company, invested in mindfulness programs for his employees. Pretty soon, employees experienced a 28% drop in terms of stress while sleep quality improved by 20%. They also became more productive at work.
Business mindfulness also has plenty of benefits such as better problem solving, the ability to adapt easier, and increased creativity. Because of this simple shift, companies are more efficient.
What is mindfulness?
Mindfulness is the innate ability to be totally present and aware of where you are and what you’re doing. It’s a non-judgmental, accepting, and helpful framework to guide you back to the task at hand without overwhelming you or making you feel negative for veering away.
Instead of rejecting thoughts, recognise them for what they are and examine them. If you think you aren’t doing a good job, confront that thought: “Why am I thinking this way? What evidence do I have to prove that I’m not doing well?” By dissecting your thoughts, you’re accepting them instead of pushing them to the back of your mind which will only cause stress.
Because mindfulness is so helpful, it helps in creating effective mindsets, especially in business leaders. With a strengthened composure and the ability to regulate your emotions better, you’re more fit to run your business with a positive mindset.
What are the benefits of mindfulness?
Mindfulness has plenty of benefits—especially when it comes to health. Physical, mental, and psychological health improve greatly from being present. People who practice mindfulness are healthier, happier, and more prepared to take on adversity.
Because mindfulness is about acceptance, those who practice it are less hard on themselves and better embrace mistakes. Apply this to your day-to-day activities by taking a moment to pause and reflect on what you’re doing and you’re sure to change your outlook.
Since it always emphasises a return to the present, focus becomes sharper and distractions aren’t as prevalent. You’re able to filter through what tasks you need to accomplish, improving efficiency.
Your mental health also improves greatly with mindfulness as you’re able to eliminate negative thoughts by compartmentalising them without letting them overwhelm you. Impostor syndrome can be conquered by reminding yourself of your present role and how you got there. Accepting that these thoughts will come is the first step to overcoming them.
Mindfulness in business and finance
Having that conscious mindset in business can lead to employees enjoying their work more, being able to stay on top of their tasks better with less distractions, and better foster relationships and communication between co-workers. It also develops leaders amongst your employees as they have a heightened sense of confidence with how productive they can become.
Mindful leadership can definitely improve how you run your company and you become a great example to your employees. The more productive you are as a result of mindfulness, the more your team will look to you and do the same. Being at peace with the present can lead to greater productivity, helping you run your business with a sense of ease.
When it comes to money and finances, mindfulness is crucial—especially for business owners. Go over your expenses and be gentle with yourself over what you’ve spent on. Remember the present and take your expenses that you didn’t think were wise as learning opportunities not to repeat them.
Just as you’re precise when it comes to regulating your thoughts and taking breaks to pause, you must be that meticulous with your spending and finances. Try not to rush in order to get the numbers correct or even hire an accountant to help put your mind at ease so you can focus on other aspects of your business.
Learn to discern in terms of what you’re spending on. Do you need new equipment for your business or is your current set-up just fine? Take a moment to think about it, be in the present, and arrive at an answer that is honest and accepting of your decision.
5 mindfulness practices you can use in your business
Because it’s innate, business mindfulness is something you can master if you dedicate the time to it. Here are five mindfulness practices you can use in your business.
1. Lead by example
A mindful leader is more likely to have mindful employees, as well. This is because employees often look to their leader in terms of performance. If their leader takes the time to be in the present, act calmly, and stay sharp and focused, employees will follow suit.
Mindful leaders exude confidence because they’ve taken the time to go over their decisions and be thoughtful. With this confidence comes productivity which empowers team members, creating an efficient, well-oiled machine.
Leaders are on top of their health, they reduce stress and take time to meditate and reflect in order to re-center themselves whenever they feel overwhelmed. A calm leader can have a calming effect on his or her team.
2. Decide if single-tasking or multitasking is better for you and your team
Some people are better at multitasking than others while some prefer to focus on one task at hand before moving on to the next. Instead of imposing one over the other on your team, allow them to work in whichever style they feel more productive in.
For those employees that love single-tasking, encourage them to break down their tasks into smaller parts in order to move at their own pace. It helps them keep focused on one area before moving on to the next. If they veer away from the single task, remind them to accept that their mind has wandered and to return to the present. While single-tasking can possibly be more time-consuming, it can yield more comprehensive results.
Multitaskers are employees who juggle several responsibilities at once. It can definitely be overwhelming but centering oneself with checklists and organised timetables can be a huge help. Ensure that your multitaskers take a break as multitasking requires a lot from the brain all at once, making burnout a big possibility.
3. Accept mistakes without being overly critical
Mindfulness is all about acceptance. You accept that your mind is deviating from what you’re doing instead of punishing yourself for it. It’s a non-judgmental process of returning and centering yourself again. This goes for making mistakes, as well.
Mistakes and errors are natural and will happen down the road. Instead of being overly critical of yourself or your team, help them understand that it’s an opportunity to grow and reframe their mistake into something to learn from.
Venturing into business is an experiment and experiments are bound to encounter errors somewhere. All it means is that you’ve eliminated one hypothesis and can move on to another.
4. Don’t bring work home with you
One big part of mindfulness as being kind to yourself is not to bring work home with you. Be in the present which is being with your family or relaxing at home. It’s not the time for work so leave it behind. Ensure you have boundaries in order to achieve the right work-life balance.
Turn off your work notifications and emails and immerse yourself in a hobby or relax. It’s time for you to rest rather than to keep stressing about what you’ll do tomorrow for work. This also goes for dwelling on what happened earlier in the day. Allow yourself to let go, to pause, and to enjoy the rest of your day.
5. Take meaningful breaks to pause and reflect
If you ever find yourself with a short break (such as waiting for your computer to boot up or waiting for documents to print), take that moment to reflect instead of remain in a stupor. Take deep breaths in order to reduce stress and anxiety. Being able to pause brings about a sense of peace that the hustle and bustle of the office often doesn’t provide.
Breaks and pauses can help you focus in the long run as it doesn’t tire out your mind. It also helps you become more productive.
You shouldn’t feel guilty about taking breaks either, as long as they’re not distracting. Taking a moment to clear your mind is helpful and lessens apprehension, making you less tense and more focused on work. Breaks actually make people more productive and help you retain more information so there’s nothing to feel guilty about.
Not only can mindfulness in business boost productivity and efficiency, but it can also ensure a happier, healthier, and more focused business. Your business will thrive with mindfulness practices no matter what area you implement it in.
Being able to productively implement mindfulness can be a challenge at first, especially with the financial aspect of your business. But we’re more than happy to help. As experts in the field of finance, we’re equipped to handle any of your accounting needs.
To achieve mindfulness and encourage more productivity in the finance sector of your business, book a call with us now.