The Effectiveness of Meditation in Silicon Valley
Hi
everyone,
As
we have discussed throughout the course, workplace stress has soared to new
levels within the tech industry. This largely has to do with the fact that the
tech industry is comprised of high work demands and small talent pools. Because
of this, tech workers are oftentimes overworked, which can result in the
destruction of their health and well-being. In her book, Counterproductive, Melissa Gregg introduces the concept of mindful
labor and explains that it can help tech workers (and anyone for that matter)
deal with workplace stress. That being said, mindful labor can be understood as
“the work of recalibration needed when when the brain and body so regularly fall
out of attunement in the intensified conditions of capitalism” (Gregg, 2018,
p.79). This process of recalibration can be carried out through the practice of
meditation and/or other mind training exercises. Gregg (2018) argues that engaging
in these types of activities can help to relieve workplace stress because after
all, “mindfulness presents a break from the worries of the world” (p.71).
Recently,
I came across a news article which discusses how meditation has become the
hottest trend in Silicon Valley. Erin Brodwin (2017) explains that a growing
body of research suggests that even a few minutes of a daily mindfulness
practice is linked to lower stress levels, more positivity as well as better
focus and creativity. Because of these reasons, tech workers in Silicon Valley have
jumped on the mindfulness bandwagon. Brodwin (2017) reveals that not only do
the CEOs of Salesforce, Twitter, and Google meditate, but the companies provide
the opportunity for the rest of their employees to do so as well. By incorporating
this practice into Silicon Valley’s tech industry, it changes the work culture
for the better.
Feel
free to check out the article here: https://www.businessinsider.com/effects-meditation-brain-changes-health-science-2017-8
What
are your thoughts? Would you be willing to engage in mindful labor as a way to
relieve workplace stress?
I believe that practicing mindfulness in the workplace is a great way to relieve workplace stress, as well as increase job satisfaction. It is also interesting to note how promoting the idea of mindful labour is a great marketing technique of such companies. Personally, promoting mindfulness within the workplace leads me to associate such companies as open-minded, forward thinking companies, and places them as a place to strive to work for. This in turn could increase further job satisfaction and self-fulfilment for employees, as it creates a large impact on work culture within such companies.
ReplyDeleteHi Cassandra,
ReplyDeleteVery interesting article indeed. Not sure I'd be willing to shell out $250 for a 'brain-sensing headband', but the research done on meditation and meditation apps certainly sounds promising. As someone who has never really meditated before, I'm skeptical of meditation; both as a practice and a business. However, as a 4th year student on the verge of graduation (and crawling to the finish line I might add), I've certainly felt anxious and overwhelmed more than a couple of times, so I'm not entirely opposed to trying it out.
I completely agree with Nila in that, from an outsider's perspective, I'd be more willing to either work for/purchase products or services from a company that values mindfulness and mental well-being, especially when it comes to their employees. Far too many companies - not just those in the tech industry - treat their employees as cogs as opposed to actual people. Mental health awareness has skyrocketed in the past decade, so it's nice to see that certain companies are championing the idea of addressing it as a primary concern.
As Melissa Gregg points out in the earlier portion of her book, the economy has undergone significant shifts, yet our understanding of workplace performance and productivity has not. I believe this to be a contributing factor to the increase of stress associated with work in the tech industry. The decentralization and precarious nature of tech work runs counter to our prior understanding of the typical full-time, 9-5 model of employment. A whole new generation of workers is now having to come to grips with the fact that we may never have that luxury, which only compounds the stress we get from working tech jobs in the first place.
'Crawiling to the finish line'— indeed.
DeleteIn and of themselves, I very much believe that mindfulness exercices and products are useful outside of the workplace. However, I am skeptical when it comes to companies that preach mindfulness.
ReplyDeleteThe discourse surrounding mental health in and out of the workplace is undoubtedly important. However, I question to what extent businesses— particularly startups who are pressed for cash flow— appropriate the idea of mental well-being. Is the comapny actually concerned about the employee's mental well-being; or is mental ill health seen as a detriment to the companies productivity. In other words, is the concern there only to bring the employee back their job, to be more productive, etc.
There seems to be a very pernicious neoliberal character to all this. Indeed even at $250, it is much cheaper to buy a headband than provide a comprehensive health policy plan or higher additional employees to ease the workload.