How to overcome everyday digital stressors in the workplace

23rd February 2024

With all its pings and alerts the digital workplace can be a stressful place to be. What helps dial down the various stressors, according to new research, is mindfulness.

The study published today in PLOS ONE, was led by researchers from the University of Nottingham’s Schools of Psychology and Medicine, who explore what goes into creating a ‘healthy digital working life’.

“As work is increasingly mediated by digital technology we wanted to find out the impact this is having on people’s health and whether there are ways to mitigate this,” explained PhD student Elizabeth Marsh from the School of Psychology. “We found that being mindfully and confidently digital should be considered important elements of living a healthy digital working life in the 21^st century.”

The research team discovered, in analysing data from 142 employees, that being more mindful in the digital workplace is an effective way to combat stress and anxiety: that higher mindfulness increases protection against these negative side effects.

“The research shows that organisations need to consider how to manage digital workplace hazards alongside other psychosocial and physical risks in the workplace,” adds Elvira Perez Vallejos, Professor of Digital Technology for Mental Health. “Helping employees foster mindful awareness when working digitally could really help overall well-being.”

How to be more mindful

Focusing your attention, your spotlight, on the present moment is the essence of mindfulness.

To delve deeper into the practice, during COP28 in Dubai, Marc Buckley spoke with Tammy Scarlett, the executive director of the international nonprofit, UNIFY, which holds the Guinness record for the largest global synchronised meditations – and reaches over 100 million people a month.

“As consciousness about caring for ourselves, each other and the planet becomes more prevalent, there is an opportunity for humanity to drive change from the inside out,” Tammy said.

Catch up with that interview to learn more about mindfulness.

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In this article:digital workplace, featured, mindfulness

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Written By Iain Robertson

Iain is a creative writer, journalist and lecturer, and formerly an editor of two international business publications. Iain is now editor of Innovators Magazine, as well as the strategic content director for OnePoint5Media.