As part of Mindful in May, high performance expert Edwina Griffin reveals the benefits of mindfulness and why the high-fliers are doing it.

There’s a reason many of the world’s biggest corporations and start-ups such as Google, Apple, Goldman Sachs and Nike practise mindfulness.

Research shows that mindfulness in the workplace reduces stress, makes people better leaders, aids concentration and enables greater self-awareness.

Sydney-based health and high performance expert of 20+ years, Edwina (Eddie) Griffin, says, “Mindfulness and meditation is one of the fastest-growing health trends in Australia, with research and tests like Cognitive ability test showing it helps people become better leaders.

“The average person’s mind wanders 49.6 per cent of the time, which suggests the challenges in holding focused meetings and engaging staff. That’s why experts are advising businesses to encourage staff to practise mindfulness in order to reduce stress, increase productivity and enable greater self-awareness.”

Mindfulness is a key part of stress management and is the practice of purposely focusing your attention on the present moment and accepting it without judgment. It promotes self-awareness, which is seen as the most important quality for leaders, boosts productivity and help focus and strengthen relationships.

Scientists are also discovering the benefits of mindfulness on strengthening the positive neural pathways in the brain through neuroplasticity, and it can also assist with managing depression, anxiety, addiction recovery and relapse prevention.

“Mindfulness involves bringing in meditation throughout your day so that it becomes not only the structured 20 minute meditations – as let’s face it, many people don’t find the time for this every day – but also introducing several short mini-meditations or moments of presence throughout your day,” adds Eddie, who is also a leadership and negotiation coach.

“Anyone can practise mindfulness to improve their self-awareness and wellbeing. You’ve just got to learn how.”

Eddie’s five tips for stress management and mindfulness in the workplace:

Positive Language

Words are powerful and cannot be taken back so take a moment to think about your choice of response in a meeting, to an email or phone call. This difference between reaction and action can make a huge difference to the culture of an organisation so take a moment to reflect and consider things from another person’s point of view before you respond. Wait until you are feeling calm and clear before communicating as there is nothing worse than responding to a workmate with negative emotions and paying the price later with regret, stress and anxiety

Remember To Breathe

Many people in the workplace are overstimulated and overloaded(sympathetic nervous system which operates in fight or flight) and breathing can become short and shallow when one operates in sensory overload. Focusing on the breath takes you into a sensory space of stillness and presence as you observe the breath. Diaphragmatic breathing stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system (the part of the nervous system responsible for healing and repair)and this physiological response helps to relax your body and mind.

Notice The Little Things Around You

When you’ve got a schedule that has back-to-back meetings, practicing mindfulness throughout your day can make a difference. Focusing on your feet touching the ground as you walk between meeting rooms, noticing the temperature of the water as you take a drink or the flavour and texture of the food as it enters your mouth at lunchtime can help to shift your pace and bring you back to centre.

Block Unscheduled Time for Yourself

Speed and a hectic schedule can trigger the stress response (fight or flight) and the best thing to encourage mindfulness is to slow down. Often the only way to ensure a slower pace in your work day is to block out time. This allows you to check in with yourself, breathe and process thoughts and emotions before you re-focus and move on to the next meeting or task.

Incorporate Mindfulness Into Meetings

Take a few minutes at the beginning of a meeting to meditate, set intentions and take a few breaths. This enables the group to become settled and present with the group before bringing the focus to the topic of the meeting. It also puts mindfulness as a priority into the culture of an organisation.

For more information or to book a session, go to edwinagriffin.com

Edwina Griffin bio

Edwina Griffin (Eddie) is a health and high performance expert with over 20 years’ experience in health and human performance. She is a keynote speaker and runs workshops and retreats on leadership and communication, stress management, health and mindfulness and consults in workplace mediations.

As the founder of Your Energy Evolution and Your Negotiator her programs provide simple, cost-effective ways to transform your body, mind and energy and enable you to operate at your peak level.

Qualifications & Training:

Eddie has a degree in Social Sciences and is studying her Masters in Negotiation. She has qualified as a:

• Nationally accredited mediator

• Meditation Facilitator

• Clinical Hypnotherapist & NLP Master Trainer

• Corrective and Exercise Kinesiologist

• Personal Trainer & Lifestyle coach

• Energetic and Sound Healer, Shamanic Practitioner

• Certificate IV in Training & Assessment

• Graduate Certificate in Negotiation

Testimonial:

Deborah Hutton: “We were thrilled to be working with Edwina on our first Balance program. It was a wonderful success for us, namely because the information Eddie delivered was expertly developed, easy to understand and simple to action. The personal weekly videos and updates inspired our followers to stick with the 12 week program and ultimately delivered success. We have continued to work with Eddie as a keynote speaker at our Balance events and we hope to continue to offer more inspired training programs with Eddie in the future.”

Eddie has received numerous accolades and awards, including NSW Exercise Professional of the Year in 2010 in the prestigious Australian Health and Fitness Industry Awards, and has been featured in the media and is the host of her own Stress Relief Show on the Bizversity App providing tools and techniques for stress management to business owners.

As an internationally recognised speaker, mentor and healer, Eddie has coached thousands of clients in achieving their personal goals and is passionate about giving back to the community through her involvement in a number of charity and business-related organisations.