AAACE 2021 Annual Conference

mindfulness, meditation, workplace stress

Finding time to care for yourself may feel difficult when you are already stressed and overwhelmed. Taking a few minutes for mindfulness and meditation can make a difference in how you feel and how you are able to perform your work duties.

There is relatively little to no knowledge about the relationships between a stressful work environment and the practices of mindfulness and meditation. What is known is that stress is a complex physiological and psychological phenomenon that seems to be inherent in most work environments (Gilstrap et al, 2019). Employees may experience adverse effects to their mental and emotional health with long-term exposure to work-related stressors (LeBlanc & Marques, 2019). Mindfulness and meditation practices are rooted in eastern culture and are both commonly used by people worldwide to alleviate stress. By exploring the cultural roots of these practices, this session aims to better equip attendees to face their daily stressors. Attendees will learn about the practices of mindfulness and meditation, with useful tips on how to incorporate these practices into their workday and end the session with a guided meditation. Our presentation aims to educate individuals on the benefits of engaging in mindfulness and mediation within the workplace. This research is timely and will provide insights on stressors in the workplace and real-time solutions to alleviate those stressors, including mindfulness and meditation.