There’s always going to be unexpected hazards and issues that pop up in the workplace, but being mindful is certainly one way to mitigate the chance that something unfortunate will happen when they do.

What Does it Mean to be Mindful?

There’s a lot that can be said on the topic, but the best way to sum it up would be that mindfulness is a deep awareness of what’s going on around you at any given time, as well as your reactions to outside stimuli.

To be mindful is to be present. In the workplace, this can mean many things, including being on time, conducting yourself a certain way, and not making easily-avoidable mistakes.

Workplace mindfulness would also include your ability to problem solve, being present during your work, listening, watching where you walk, task management, and other forms of responsibility.

When you act with awareness, you take in everything around you and digest it accordingly. You don’t get too lost in your head or distracted by nonsense. You stay focused and you take in everything that needs to be understood in order for you to be fully effective at your job.

How Mindfulness Helps Efficiency

Distracted minds are inefficient.

Part of optimizing your work routine is being deeply aware of what is happening around you and what’s on your plate in terms of tasks that have to be accomplished. If you aren’t fully understanding and staying aware of the events transpiring around you, you’re going to be caught off guard.

This is how sloppy work habits are formed. It’s usually from a lack of mindfulness.

Taking stock of your daily tasks, communicating properly with your team, staying out of people’s way, and above all else, being present in the moment, is a recipe for workplace success.

You may have heard about the term “mindfulness” before and thought it was just something spiritual that didn’t really apply to the workplace, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Sometimes it pays to take a page from the “self-help” side of things in order to become better at what you do for a living.

Workplace communication is one of the primary indicators of efficiency, for example. You can only communicate properly if you are listening and acting in a mindful, coordinated fashion.

Mindfulness training, in the form of meditation, is starting to become a habit of Fortune 500 CEOs for a reason. Mental strength leads to awareness, which leads to an overall increase in productivity, problem solving capabilities, improved mood, and mental stamina.

Mindfulness Reduces Workplace Injury

In the EHS sector, it’s critical for workers to have spatial awareness and the ability to react if something goes awry.

Part of staying safe in the workplace is simply following the regulation set forth by agencies like OSHA, but there is no substitute for awareness. Anything can happen in the workplace, it’s important to practice mental fortitude so you know how to react.

If you are aware of your surroundings, you’re more likely to catch something that’s out of place, remember a task you forgot earlier, spot something dangerous or strange, react in time to avoid a hazard, or act fast and efficiently when it matters most.

Mindfulness through meditation increases cognition and reaction time, which are important elements to being an effective worker in any EHS field.

If you can find a way to incorporate meditation exercises into workforce training, you’ll be reaping the benefits. But everyone can take it upon themselves to be more mindful in the workplace. Be sure to watch where you are going, remember what needs to be done, and remove distractions.

Just a few simple adjustments to how you go about your day could make a massive difference, as well as mitigate the chances of you or someone else having an accident or forgetting something important.