How Can Mindfulness & Breathwork Help Reduce Employee Burnout

Work can occasionally be enjoyable and fulfilling. a task finished ahead of schedule. a significant transaction that goes off without a hitch. The crew is in a terrific mood and profits are up.

Work can also be difficult, annoying, or downright stressful at times. This is expected and normal. That might even be advantageous. After all, a little stress might help motivate. Teams may come together, work harder, and do better work as a result.

When stress becomes unbearable or persistent, it becomes unhealthy and unproductive. Those who are under a lot of stress are less resilient, less productive, and happier. Each member of a team is impacted when under stress, but the entire team is also impacted. The team loses coordination, becomes ineffective, and eventually burns out rather than functioning as a well-oiled machine.

How Do I Know if my Team is Burned Out?

Burnout is a natural outcome of too much effort and stress. More than half of workers claim to be burned out at any given time. Burnout at work unfortunately happens frequently. That said, it still isn't acceptable.

It is difficult to reverse burnout once it has begun. Particularly in teams, when each member's happiness has a direct impact on how well the group functions. The key to preventing burnout at work is to continuously monitor the team's actions, attitudes, and output so you can recognise the warning signals of high stress and take action to lessen it before it spirals out of control.

Here are some indicators that your team is nearing (or has reached) burnout at work:

1. Decreased productivity: If your team is struggling with tasks that were previously completed with ease, or if they seem overwhelmed by reasonable challenges, it could be a sign of burnout.
2. Low morale: When the team seems less enthusiastic and less engaged than usual, then something is clearly bothering them. It may be that stress is taking a toll, leading to a collective apathy and lack of energy.
3. Increased absenteeism: A key sign of burnout is when employees frequently take time off or call in sick. If this is happening to several members of the team, then it could be more than just an individual problem – it could be that the team is burned out.
4. Lack of communication: When team members are feeling positive and productive, then communication usually flows well. However, if there is a lack of communication and collaboration, or if communication has become unhealthy or toxic, then it could well be because the team is feeling ‘fed up’ and burned out.
5. Increased conflicts: Every team sometimes has disagreements and conflicts. However, if there seem to be more or frequent conflicts among team members, or if people are getting triggered by seemingly innocuous interactions, it may be that burnout has already struck.
6. Physical symptoms: Burnout at work is often accompanied by physical symptoms such as headaches, neck aches, fatigue or frequent illness. If several team members are suffering from these kinds of symptoms, it might be time to consider whether the team has a case of burnout.

If there is evidence of burnout in your team, it’s important to start implementing tools and strategies right away, to prevent it from getting worse. The longer it goes on, the harder it will be to recover.

One of the best tools for stress management – and one that you can easily provide for avoiding burnout in the workplace – is mindfulness & breathwork.

Dealing with Burnout with Mindfulness & Breathwork

An ancient eastern meditation technique called mindfulness teaches people to become more conscious of their thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations as they arise, without passing judgement. Being conscious of the present moment teaches people to recognise the symptoms of stress, accept them without judgement, and learn to let them go. This is a very effective technique for controlling stress before it overwhelms you and leads to burnout.

Being able to practise mindfulness meditation at any time, especially at work, is a fantastic benefit. Many people prefer to use a meditation device to get started and up until they gain more experience. As part of their corporate meditation initiatives, several businesses are providing their employees with a variety of low-cost meditation applications and courses.

Breathwork can also help employees who are experiencing burnout. Being able to practice breathwork in the office can help reduce stress, anxiety and improve general wellbeing & health.

How Can Mindfulness & Breathwork Help Prevent Burnout

There is no magic involved; the positive effects of mindfulness meditation on both physical and emotional health have been demonstrated in thousands of clinical research. Being mindful affects every element of life, including stress that causes burnout. Mindfulness is more than a method. These are 5 ways that mindfulness can help to lessen workplace burnout:

1. Stress reduction: The mind and body are intrinsically connected. The body exhibits a variety of stress-related symptoms, including headaches, stomachaches, insomnia, heart palpitations, and more, when the mind is overworked and agitated. By placing a strong emphasis on the physical sensations of the body, mindfulness techniques like meditation and breathwork assist in calming the mind. The mind follows the body in relaxing, and the body responds by slowing down when the mind is at peace. Those who practise mindfulness can enter a peaceful and healthy mind-body loop. This has a huge impact on lowering stress levels and avoiding burnout.
2. An Australian study found that those who practised mindfulness for 8 weeks were better at maintaining their attention, even 6 months afterwards. Individuals can strengthen their capacity for concentration and attention by engaging in mindfulness practises, which can boost output and improve performance at work.
3. Self-awareness is improved as a result of mindfulness because it makes people more conscious of their emotions and thoughts, which makes it easier for them to recognise when they are worried or overwhelmed. They are better equipped to recognise warning signs of excessive stress so they can take care of themselves and avoid the full effects of burnout.
4. Increased self-awareness and emotional awareness are two factors that contribute to greater resilience in those who frequently practise mindfulness. By doing this, individuals develop the ability to act deliberately, look for what they need and want, and grow more adaptable to change. As obstacles arise at work, this may enable individuals to handle them more effectively and continue to be productive.
5. Better relationships: People frequently discover that practising mindfulness also makes their relationships better since it teaches them to be more present and attentive. Those who practise mindfulness find themselves to be more composed, in control, and less reactive to challenging emotions. All of this can help individuals communicate better and forge closer bonds with their coworkers, which will benefit the team as a whole.

Employees can improve their general well-being, increase self-awareness, and reduce stress by adding mindfulness activities into their everyday routines. They will thereby contribute to the team becoming more productive, resilient to burnout, and overall healthier.

Mindfulness & Breathwork Make Effective & Healthy Teams

Burnout at work is a common occurrence, but it is not inevitable. It is best to prevent burnout from occurring in the first place since, like wildfire, it may be very challenging to manage once it has spread throughout the team.

The best course of action is prevention, which is being proactive with various techniques that lessen stress and enhance wellbeing. Your burnout prevention strategy should be built around breathwork & mindfulness, a tried-and-true practise that any team can pick up quickly. Your team will be more composed, productive, and resistant to burnout than ever when combined with the other suggestions and practises mentioned above.