Breathe well – work well: The power of breathwork in the workplace
Peak Presenting Director Melinda Smith has established Breathworkx to help individuals and workplaces discover and use the power of breathwork to reduce stress and improve productivity and performance.
In this article she explains what breathwork involves, how it works, and how simple it is to unlock its many benefits. At Peak Presenting, we incorporate breathwork into our presentation skills and media interview skills training and coaching programs. It is one of the tools we give people to overcome nerves and be more in control so they deliver an effective interview or presentation.
Stress and burnout is a major issue for Australian businesses
In today's fast-paced, demanding work environments, it's no surprise that many employees are feeling overwhelmed, stressed, and burnt out.
Harvard Business Review has conducted extensive research to understand the impact of burnout in the workplace. Findings reveal it can have severe consequences for both individuals and organisations including decreased productivity, increased turnover, reduced job satisfaction, and physical and mental health problems.
A recent Mental Health First Aid Australia study showed we have one of the highest burnout rates in the world. An alarming 61% of Australian workers had experienced burnout, compared to the global average of 48%. This trend has seen burnout rates increase by 5% from 2021 to 2022, leading to burnout being attributed to 40% of employee resignations.
The constant pressure to perform (often with reduced resources), meet deadlines, and navigate complex change and challenges, can take a gradual toll.
Fortunately there is a simple yet powerful self-managed tool that can support leaders and teams to build resilience. That tool is breathwork - and it is right under our noses.
What is breathwork?
Breathwork is the practice of consciously controlling and directing your breath to regulate our nervous systems. When done correctly, it can have a profound influence on your mental, physical, emotional and spiritual states.
Breathwork activates our parasympathetic nervous system. This system is responsible for calming us down and putting us into rest and digest mode. At the same time, it deactivates our sympathetic nervous system that triggers our stress response, and puts us in fight or flight mode. We need both systems. The problem is many of us are spending most, or all, of our time in our sympathetic state.
The benefits of breathwork for people and businesses
You can achieve these benefits by incorporating simple breathwork practices into your your daily work routine.
Reduce stress and anxiety. Shallow, rapid breathing is a common symptom of stress. Breathwork teaches you how to slow down and deepen your breath, activating your body's natural relaxation response.
Improve focus and concentration. A calm and clear mind is essential for productivity and decision-making. Breathwork can help you stay focused and present in the moment.
Enhance emotional resilience. You can learn to manage stress and anxiety to better handle challenges and setbacks.
Boost energy and vitality. Deep breathing can increase oxygen intake, leading to improved energy levels and overall well-being.
Support physical health. Lower blood pressure, improved sleep quality, strengthened immune system.
Introducing breathwork exercises can be done with minimum time and cost.
Breathwork programs and training can help businesses and organisations to create more healthy workplaces. They are a practical and effective addition to WHS plans to help eliminate and manage the risk of workplace psychosocial hazards.
Adopting breathwork into wellbeing programs promotes:
happier, healthier work environments
more productive, engaged, creative teams
enhanced focus and decision making
reduced presenteeism and absenteeism
attract and retain talented staff.
Steps to introducing breathwork into workplaces and work routines.
The first step is to learn how to breathe more effectively from a qualified practitioner. They’ll assist you to better understand how we physically respond to stress, and guide you through some practical exercises to stimulate the nervous system that calms us down.
The next step is to start including a regular five to ten minutes breathing practice, twice a day. You can gradually increase your practice over time. Whether you're driving to or from work, sitting at your desk, or taking a break, you can become more conscious about your breathing to help build resilience, manage stress and improve your wellbeing.
More information on breathwork
So, why not give breathwork a try? It could be the key to unlocking your performance potential – one inhale and exhale at a time.
Click here for more information about breathwork and introducing breathing techniques at work. Or call Melinda on 0408 565 593.