From stress to success: Mindfulness techniques for tech Employees
Morgane Oléron
Many of us are(unfortunately) familiar with the terms stressful meetings, triggering stressors, and work stress. While we cannot generalize to all tech employees, the fast-paced environments they evolve in, tight deadlines, multitasking, and high industry expectations contribute to high-stress levels for certain positions.
Introducing mindfulness practices to your team can be a simple and efficient way to improve your employees’ well-being, work-life balance, and productivity.
it is more relevant than ever today as we witness the advancements of AI and automation
Technostress: when technology becomes a disease
The term technostress was coined in 1984 by Craig Brod, a clinical psychologist who saw it as“a modern disease of adaptation caused by an inability to cope with the new computer technologies healthily.”
While it is over 40 years old, it is more relevant than ever today as we witness the advancements of AI and automation, increasing the pressure to adapt and enhancing job insecurity.
The concept of technostress encompasses several layers:
being overloaded with constant emails and notifications
struggling to face the complexity of new software and system
the insecurity of losing one’s job or being replaced by more tech-savvy colleagues or AI
These concerns can affect all of us, whether we are tech workers or not.
However, software developers, IT professionals and other tech professionals are subject to psychological and even physical symptoms as a result of built-up frustration and helplessness, demotivation, decreased productivity, mental fatigue, sleeping problems and even depression and burnout.
The Challenges of Stress in the Tech Industry
IT workers seem to experience particularly high rates of burnout
Who is suffering from it the most?
Stress and anxiety are everywhere, but IT workers seem to experience particularly high rates of burnout. Recent surveys show that 58% of IT decision-makers suffer from burnout. Countries like India(78%), the UK(60%), and the US(53%) form the top three of the highest rates.
The same research has shown that Gen Z(followed by millennials) and women are the most prone to burnout in the IT industry.
Where does the stress come from?
Most recent literature on the topic identifies three leading causes of stress and anxiety in the tech industry:
High-stress periods are the reality of tech industry jobs. However, there are ways to learn to cope with these stressors to reduce the negative impact on your employee’s mental health.
THE ROLE OF MINDFULNESS IN I.T COMPANIES
What is mindfulness?
It is not rare to feel like we are on a treadmill from the moment we wake up to the moment we go to bed. In very simple terms, mindfulness can be explained as taking the time to pay attention to the present moment, the ability to be aware of your thoughts, feelings and emotions in the moment, all the while not letting yourself be overwhelmed by them. It is the capacity to be an observer without judgment. It is a practice that can feel scary at first or even be considered“too spiritual” and often encounters scepticism, especially in the workplace.
While mindfulness practices can be found in several religions, such as Buddhism, they are secular practices. Mindfulness is a scientifically proven beneficial skill that can help reduce stress and increase employee engagement. The good news is that it can be trained!
How does it work?
By encouraging us to slow down and take a moment to become aware of our thoughts and emotions, we are allowing calmness to take over.
By intentionally focusing on a single task, we help reduce cognitive overload and learn to prioritize more effectively. It also helps tremendously with how we respond to a situation, impulsively or thoughtfully.
By being more aware of our behaviours, we can better understand our boundaries regarding technology usage, for example. In time, we are also better equipped to navigate stressful situations more resiliently, allowing us to see challenges in a different light and not necessarily overwhelmingly.
take a moment to become aware of our thoughts
How to be mindful in the workplace?
It is important to start gradually and offer different options to cater to everyone’s needs and the degree of comfort with such practices.
Leading by example and encouraging group efforts to reduce stigma and scepticism is a great way to start.
Here are a few simple ideas to implement in your workplace:
Start mindfulness challenges – making it fun for everyone.
Teach simple practices such as deep breathing and body scan at the start of the day.
Promote intentional breaks throughout the day without phones or technology.
Start meetings with a one-minute mindfulness break. Encourage everyone to take a deep breath and reflect on the meeting’s desired outcome.
Offer access to professional-led group practices(meditation classes…)
Leverage technology by providing mindfulness apps and tools like Siffi and its mindfulness journeys.
Adapt to your employee’s specific needs and schedule(have dedicated mindfulness workshops at the start of a complex project or tight deadline)
The Limits of Mindfulness
While practising mindfulness is a remarkable way to alleviate stress in the workplace, it has its limitations. Mindfulness is one tool in the toolbox for overall well-being at work, more than a cure for anxiety and burnout.
It is also not recommended for everyone. Indeed, people who have PTSD or other psychological difficulties like severe anxiety, depression, or past trauma may find these practices triggering. That is why supporting your employees with professionals who can adequately guide these practices is essential.
support your employees with professionals who can guide these practices is essential.
By making mindfulness accessible, integrating it seamlessly into daily routines, and leveraging technology creatively, companies can support their tech employees in managing stress while fostering productivity and innovation.
Want to know more about how Siffi is helping organisations? Check out our services
Morgane crafts compassionate, engaging content that makes mental health conversations more human and accessible. At Siffi, she combines storytelling with strategy to foster a culture of care and connection in the workplace.
Morgane Oléron
