When life gets tough, it turns out that hope may be more powerful than mindfulness in helping people manage stress and stay engaged at work.
A recent study has found that during prolonged periods of stress, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on the future (hope) is more effective than focusing on the present moment (mindfulness).
Mindfulness is the practice of being fully present and aware, without judgment. It’s about staying in the moment, which can be beneficial in many situations.
However, the study suggests that during difficult times, mindfulness may not be as helpful as having hope for the future.
“There’s a lot of talk about the benefits of mindfulness, but it can be challenging to stay mindful when you’re under a lot of stress,” says Tom Zagenczyk, a professor at North Carolina State University’s Poole College of Management and co-author of the study.
“When things are really tough, you might not want to focus too much on the difficult situation you’re in.”
The research team, which included experts from Clemson University, conducted the study with 247 professional musicians who were part of MusiCares, an organization that supports musicians.
The musicians were given two surveys, one in September 2021 and another in October 2021.
The surveys asked about their experiences during the pandemic, focusing on how hopeful and mindful they were, as well as their levels of work engagement, tension, and overall well-being.
The results showed that hope was strongly associated with happiness. Musicians who were hopeful experienced less distress, were more engaged with their work, and felt less tension in their professional lives.
In contrast, mindfulness did not have the same positive impact on their happiness.
“Hope makes people happier, and when people are happy, they’re less stressed and more connected to their work,” says Kristin Scott, a professor at Clemson University and co-author of the study.
While mindfulness has its benefits, especially in helping people stay present, the study emphasizes the importance of maintaining hope during tough times.
“It’s important to keep a hopeful outlook, especially during prolonged stress,” says Sharon Sheridan, another co-author and assistant professor at Clemson.
“People should try to balance being mindful with staying hopeful—remembering that there’s light at the end of the tunnel.”
Although the study focused on musicians during the pandemic, the researchers believe the findings are relevant to other industries as well.
“High levels of job stress can happen in any sector,” says Emily Ferrise, a Ph.D. student at Clemson and co-author of the study. “Organizations should consider promoting hope and forward-thinking in their culture to help employees stay engaged and happy.”
The study highlights the importance of hope in helping people navigate difficult times, suggesting that looking forward to better days can make a significant difference in how we cope with stress and stay motivated at work.
