Meditation at work
- Article
- 2023-05-12
Stress at work is a ubiquitous factor. From the well-known Monday morning stress when opening emails to anticipation and fear of failure when performance falls short or is considered unsatisfactory. Different work situations contribute to stress perceptions.
Stress increases levels of cortisol, the stress hormone. Long-term elevated cortisol levels have a lasting effect on blood sugar levels. In the case of the metabolic disorder hyperinsulinemia, sugars are rapidly converted to adipose tissue, resulting in the buildup of adipose tissue combined with low blood sugar levels in vital organs such as the brain. This can lead to an increase in appetite or cravings for sweets. Ultimately, a vicious circle of overweight and stress can develop, especially with sedentary work at the computer.
Researchers in the behavioral sciences at the University of California have investigated whether brief moments of digital meditation at work could break this cycle. The study, which took place over a two-month period, was a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. The results showed that this short digital mindfulness program reduced perceived stress and improved the distribution of abdominal fat in overweight adults. Participants who meditated consistently, as well as the group who received additional guidance in adopting a healthy eating pattern, showed the best results. They also decreased BMI and waist circumference (a measure of belly fat) more than participants who did not change their diet or who were less consistent with the exercises.
source reference:
Radin, R. M., et al. (2023). Impact of digital meditation on work stress and health outcomes among adults with overweight: A randomized controlled trial . PloS one, 18(3), e0280808.
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