Mindfulness at Work: How Workbar Promotes Mental Well-Being

Workbar has prioritized mental well-being and wellness since day one (we were the first WELL certified Coworking space in the world) and this May, during Mental Health Awareness Month, we are educating our community about the benefits of developing new well-being skills to thrive both personally and professionally. 

To support the mental health of its members, employees and community, Workbar has partnered with Cheryl Jones, a wellness expert, speaker, and coach who has been helping individuals and organizations thrive for over 25 years, to offer virtual Mindful Monday Sessions for the month of May. Cheryl is extensively trained as a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) teacher and was formerly the Director of Mindfulness at Aetna. She is author of Thriving When Your Cosmic Egg Is Cracked: A Mindful Journey. 

Wondering how mindfulness and other well-being practices can enhance your overall effectiveness and happiness at work? Here are six tips to get started:

1. Give Mindfulness Meditation a Try

Learning to stop when you want to go seems counterintuitive, but it’s a powerful way to get things done without all the wear and tear. Practicing mindfulness involves pausing to tune in to your breathing, becoming familiar with thoughts going through your mind, and learning to work with difficult emotions. This is an awareness skill which reduces stress, improves concentration, and helps us to engage with others more thoughtfully.

(Join us for FREE 15-minute mindfulness meditation breaks beginning May 8th.)

2. Take Breaks Throughout the Day

Another key to enhancing your overall well-being and productivity is to take breaks throughout the day. Whether it's a quick walk around the block, a few minutes of stretching, or setting a timer to stop and follow the breath in and out for one minute. There is a cumulative benefit to taking breaks throughout the day. A few minutes here and there add up to help you avoid burnout, stay energized, and innovate.

3. Let Positive Moments Fill You Up

Even during the busiest of days or when things aren’t going as planned, we experience positive moments. But when we’re powering through the day on autopilot, we don’t notice them. Mindfulness helps us to note when we feel grateful, happy, curious, kind, or optimistic. And then pause, take a few breaths, and allow ourselves to be energized by these and other positive emotions.

4. Practice Gratitude

Being thankful is another way to enhance overall well-being. Take a few minutes to reflect on what you are grateful for. Keep a gratitude journal to track your daily blessings. Send a thank you email, text, or card. By cultivating a sense of gratitude, you can shift your attention from what you lack to what you have, which improves your mood and happiness in general and at work.

5. Connect with Others

Strengthening relationships at work and in life is an important aspect of social well-being.  Whether it's through joining a wellness group or simply taking time to connect with colleagues and friends, creating meaningful connections can help to reduce stress, lift your spirits, and enhance overall well-being. (Members of Workbar have access to a community of like-minded professionals who are committed to growth and success.)

6. Create Work-Life Balance

Creating a sense of balance looks different for each person. For some, it involves setting clear boundaries between the workday and personal time. For others, it can be more flexible, flowing back and forth between work-related tasks to other life demands. Mindfulness helps us to get to know ourselves better and to determine what works best for us. This way we can move through the day with more grace and ease, and sleep more soundly.

In summary 

We’re excited to help you discover your unique path to well-being and hope you find these tips helpful. We invite you to be part of our mindfulness meditation community to gain support from others and thrive forward in all ways.

Ready to start? Join us for FREE 15-minute mindfulness meditation breaks beginning May 8th, tune in virtually when it works for you. (Note: We will meet on Tuesday 5/30 instead of Memorial Day.)

Where to find Cheryl: Through her website, Thriving with Cheryl Jones, she offers a range of wellness services and resources, including coaching, team training, and retreats.