Be Mindful of Ways to Prevent Meltdown

By any measure, our work lives — looming deadlines, meetings to prepare for, jammed copiers and colorful coworkers — provide many of us with a source of stress.

But by the measure of medical science, the health benefits of even a little bit of workplace stress reduction are coming into focus. Inhale deeply, relax your shoulders and read on.

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is actually not new. Developed three decades ago by John Kabat-Zinn of the University of Massachusetts, MBSR involves focused meditative practice and has been demonstrated to improve how we feel physically and emotionally.

Some employers have been reluctant to adopt MBSR because of the amount of time required for the practice. But the good news coming out of Ohio State University is that it need not be all or none. A little bit goes a long way toward removing stress, improving our outlook and even helping us get a better night's sleep.

In a study led by OSU's Maryanna Klatt, a test population participated in a modified MBSR program comprised of 20 minutes of daily meditation and yoga performed at the desk along with a one-hour weekly group meeting to discuss progress. Participants reported marked improvement in how they felt and in their ability to approach stressful situations with clarity and calm having gone through the six-week trial.

Photo courtesy of flickr user Topato, via Wikimedia Commons.