23/03/2016

Companies around the country are touting the virtues of meditation and mindfulness in the workplace. And for good reason: The practice can improve memory and focus, control emotions, and reduce stress—and, in turn, make you better at your job. Here’s how.

1. You won't miss a detail.

You’re sitting in a meeting, laptop open, phone on the table next to you. You’re listening intently when an email pops up. You quickly open it, read it, and close it—with a plan to respond when you “have more time.” The only trouble is now you’re thinking about it. Whether it was about dinner tonight or a presentation due at 3 p.m., although you are not actively looking at the email, it has invaded your brain space. No one in the room may notice, but you’re not 100 percent there.

Forty-five minutes later, back at your desk, you begin discussing the meeting with a colleague, only to realize that the two of you heard completely different things. Now you’ll need to follow up with your other coworkers. Not only have you missed information because you were distracted, you’re slowing down your own workflow because of it.