Are you looking for a way to increase your productivity and performance at work? If so, you're in luck! Breathing techniques can help you stay on task, maintain focus, and even give better presentations. Best of all, you can do them anywhere- right in your office, out on the job site, at your cubicle, or while working from home. These techniques apply to any career in any industry- that’s the great thing about breathwork! Keep reading to learn more about the powerful positive effects of breathwork on your job performance and productivity.
We all know that feeling when we're trying to focus on a project at work but we just can't seem to get our thoughts together. Or when we're in a meeting and our mind starts wandering. Or when we're about to give a presentation and our heart starts racing and our palms start sweating. These are all common reactions to stress, and they can have a serious impact on our productivity. Stress seems to come up at every aspect of our careers- getting ready in the morning, commuting, prioritizing tasks, preparing for meetings and presentations, and focusing on goals for the day, week, or quarter.
How exactly does stress affect us in our careers?
We've all heard of the dangers of stress. It can raise our blood pressure, give us ulcers, and make us feel generally anxious and stressed out. But did you know that stress can also have a negative impact on our work performance? In fact, studies have shown that chronic stress can lead to decreased productivity, absenteeism, and job turnover. According to a recent survey by the American Institute of Stress, job stress is responsible for an estimated $300 billion per year in health care costs and lost productivity. Even more side effects of job stress can be found here: ,https://www.cnbc.com/2017/12/14/the-harmful-effects-of-stress-at-work-and-what-you-can-do-to-beat-it.html. Some of these extremely serious side effects may surprise you. You may even recognize many of these symptoms in your own daily life. As we get older, it is necessary to be proactive in eliminating as much stress as possible, so as to maximize our mental and physical health moving forward.
So why is job stress so prevalent?
In our constantly connected world, we're expected to be "on" all the time, which can lead to chronic stress. And with ever-increasing workloads and shrinking budgets, many workers are feeling overwhelmed and undervalued. All of this can have a serious impact on our physical and mental health.
When we experience stress in the workplace, it can lead to a number of negative consequences. When we're stressed, our heart rate and blood pressure increase, our muscles tense up, and we may even start to perspire. These physical reactions can lead to mental effects such as forgetfulness, poor decision making, and reduced productivity. In extreme cases, stress can also lead to burnout.
Burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion caused by chronic stress. Symptoms of burnout include feelings of hopelessness, negativity towards one's job or company, and even depression. If left unchecked, burnout can lead to absenteeism, job dissatisfaction, and ultimately quitting one's job. These are extremely serious side effects that can negatively impact your mood, well-being, and liveliness, both in and out of the workplace.
But here's the good news: there are simple breathing techniques that can help us manage our stress and increase our productivity at work. When we take a few deep breaths, it slows down our heart rate and gives us a moment to gather our thoughts and mentally prepare for the tasks at hand. Breathwork is a great practice for relieving stress in a short period of time with only a few minutes of effort (not to mention it is completely free). Here are a few specific ways that breathing techniques can help us all at work:
-They can help us stay on task by keeping our minds clear and focused.
-They can help us maintain focus during meetings or presentations by calming our nerves and helping us stay present in the moment.
-They can help us maximize efficiency by helping us stay calm and focused throughout the day.
-They can help us give better presentations by helping us control our anxiety and nerves.
The benefits to taking a few minutes every day to relax, recharge, and take a few deep, controlled breaths are astounding. After just one breathwork session, you may notice significant improvements in your mood, energy, and ability to focus and maintain lengthened productivity.
Here are a few breathing techniques that you can try throughout the day while you're working:
1. Take five deep breaths before starting your workday. This will help you get centered and focused for what's ahead.
2. Take three deep breaths every hour or so to keep your mind clear and focused.
3. Take five deep breaths before giving a presentation or going into a meeting. This will help you control your anxiety and be present in the moment.
4. Once your workday is over, take five deep breaths to release any residual stress from the day. This will help you relax and rejuvenate so that you're ready for tomorrow!
Breathing techniques are a simple but powerful way to increase your productivity at work by helping you stay on task, maintain focus, maximize efficiency, and even give better presentations! Try incorporating some of these techniques into your daily work routine and see how they make a difference for you!
Aside from practicing breathwork, the American Psychological Association has some great tips on how to manage stress and burnout in the workplace: ,https://www.apa.org/topics/healthy-workplaces/work-stress. All of these practices, combined with locking down simple breathing techniques, can have dramatic improvements in your career and life in general.
Combatting job stress through employee wellness programs
In recent years, more and more companies have been investing in employee wellness programs. These programs are designed to help employees be healthier and happier both inside and outside of work. While these programs can take many different forms, one common component is the promotion of relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and meditation. But can these relaxation techniques really improve workplace performance? Based on the answers above, most definitely.
Relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and meditation can help to reduce stress levels and improve cognitive function. A study published in the journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience found that just eight weeks of mindfulness meditation training improved participants' working memory and executive function. Another study found that five minutes of diaphragmatic breathing (a type of deep breathing) significantly improved participants' accuracy on a test of attention and focus.
So there you have it: relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and meditation can actually improve workplace performance by reducing stress levels and improving cognitive function. If your company doesn't already have a wellness program in place, consider suggesting that they start one! And even if your company does have a wellness program, make sure to take advantage of it by participating in relaxation activities regularly. Your body—and your career—will thank you for it.
Breathwork for Business is an employee wellness program that serves as a great feature in your company’s employee wellness efforts. Our team can create a customized package for your business in order to provide unlimited access to all of the amazing breathing exercises and classes that our app has to offer, in order to boost employee morale, productivity, and mental and physical health. Would your team love a comprehensive breathing program with top-rated exercises and techniques proven to improve performance, reduce stress/anxiety, and even lead to better sleep? Reach out to our sales team at partnerships@breathwrk.com or fill out the short form on our website today (,https://www.breathwrk.com/business) to receive a message from someone from our amazing sales team. Whether you are a director or an employee in any job function, we would love to hear from you and see how Breathwrk can help your business!
