Guest Column: Mindfulness is a way to reengineer effectiveness: Shailja Varghese
Varghese says that we have ignored the most important role and duty we have, and that is towards ‘oneself’
More than ever before employee stress in media industry is being recognised as a major drain on corporate productivity and effectiveness. We all know the drill and rigmarole we go through to achieve our goals. It not an easy ride. There are sacrifices, hard work and sweat hidden behind all the glory and achievements. How often have you heard yourself say, “I feel cluttered and irritated?” “I wish I had more balance in life.” “I am always thinking about the future and not able to stay in the present.” or “So many thoughts bombard my mind and I am not able to think through.”
As per Assocham survey done in 2016 covering 250 companies from every sector, 45.5 per cent of the sample population in India suffer from depression or general anxiety. Obesity is the second worrisome disease, with 23 per cent of the employees suffering from it. 40.5 per cent of the corporate employees sleep less than six hours and might be resort to sleep inducing methods like pills.
We often project our stress on the external world whether it’s a person, situation or technological advancement, but the reality is we will be inundated with various roles to play through the day, and also expected to excel in each of them. However, the reason of stress and all the confusion is not in outside changing world or people but the hullaballoo of race to reach the finish line, and not being able to pause. We have ignored the most important role and duty we have, and that is towards ‘oneself’. In modern times the concept of self or in simple terms “my-time” is ignored, which has detrimental effects on us because nature has its own way of reinstating the equilibrium within us. Whether it is the manifestation of physiological or psychological ailments or the ‘moments of realisation’ when we are stripped off privileges given to us by nature due to abuse of body and mind.
There is a simple secret I will share, ‘between stimulus and response there is space and in that space, is our power to choose our response and in our response, lies our growth and our freedom.’ Well, this should be simple to comprehend because happiness in body, mind and soul is a rhythm, a pulse, a habit, but comes with an effort and training. An effort which needs to be cultivated at a tender age when we are children. Nevertheless, in the corporate world the need of the hour is to find techniques to reduce stress and increase energy, which can lead to creativity and productivity.
In the below interview link, Arianna Huffington, the founder of The Huffington Post, the founder and CEO of Thrive Global, and the author of 15 books jokingly says, "To everyone out there in the corporate world stop using phrases like 'we are killing it';"we are crushing it" – really? All you are killing is yourself. Lean back to lean into change. We are so hyper connected through technology that often disconnects us, from our self. When inner voice speaks – shut up and listen. Don’t miss the moment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwyAGR0oLbw
We are lucky to be in a time where there a whole lot of techniques, processes through which we can tune-in, by spending some tranquil time with ourselves through meditation, prayers, yoga, chanting, mindfulness and other practices. The big move in this direction has been the launch of International Day of Yoga in 2015 which now celebrated annually on June 21. There is no surprise that 53 per cent of corporate firms are opting for meditation and yoga sessions at workplace to boost productivity and reduce attrition rate.
Earlier this year a program started in China to introduce 100 universities to help fight depression and stress.
Now research and science is also backing the positive effects of these practices on brain and productivity. Following are the effects of meditation and mindfulness techniques on our brain.
Focus: mindfulness techniques improve focus by causing an increase in cortical thickness in regions in the brain responsible for attention.
·Stress Reduction: decreases stress and anxiety by downregulating cortisol and adrenalin creating a state of deep relaxation in which our breathing, pulse rate, blood pressure and metabolism are decreased.
· Cognition: improves cognitive function by increasing grey matter, brain volume and cerebral blood flow.
· Mood: increases dopamine and serotine levels by stimulating regions of the brain which are associated with happiness and positivity.
· Brain Function: increases whole brain function, by synchronising the right and left hemisphere of the brain.
· Gyrification: MRI scans have shown that meditation and mindfulness techniques increase gyrification or cortical folding, which allows the brain to process information faster.
Do remember, the world is not going to get slower, and technology and data will only increase multifold. In the year 2020, we will be dealing with a more complex ‘internet of things’. Our bank balance and assets aren’t going to teach us how to keep our sense of equanimity. That part is up to us.
The question to ask our self is- do we want to press the pause button now or after 10 years when it might be too late? Think!
- Shailja Varghese
(The author is content specialist and was a jury for Lions Entertainment at Cannes Lions 2016, she is also a mindfulness and happiness course trainer at the Art of Living Foundation)
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E4M Our strategy is to target younger audiences through Sports: Rajiv Dubey, Dabur
The Head of Media at Dabur India spoke exclusively to exchange4media on the World Cup, associating with Indian Idol, the company’s digital spending and much more
With quirky campaigns, memes and moment marketing, timed with the ongoing World Cup and particularly the India-Pakistan matches, Dabur India has got considerable consumer attention for its popular brands – Red Paste, Cool King Hair Oil, Chyawanprash, Dabur Vita and the recently launched Bae Fresh Gel toothpaste.
The 140-year-old company is going big on key sporting events, World Television Premiere (WTP) movies and reality shows. It is now gearing up to become the title sponsor of popular talent show ‘Indian Idol’ on Sony TV for the first time, shared Rajiv Dubey, who leads the media strategy at Dabur.
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ShareSwapan Seth's new book 'COOL' is out
The book is a reflection of the author's 'eclectic taste across categories'
Advertising professional and art collector Swapan Seth has announced the launch of his new book COOL. The book is described as "a ready reckoner to the hip and the happening, of the known and the very unknown."
The book is a reflection of the author's "eclectic taste across categories: from boltholes to exotic hideaways."
COOL has been published by Simon & Schuster India and is available on Amazon.
Seth is an ad veteran with a long and illustrious career in the industry. He became the youngest-ever Creative Director at Clarion at age 24. He was VP at 26 at Trikaya Grey. Two years later, he started his agency Equus.
He writes for publications such as The Economic Times, Hindustan Times and India Today. This is his second book and he has previously published THIS IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
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Disney Star signs 9 sponsors for Asia Cup PAK
Charged by Thums Up, Nerolac Paint+, Amazon Pay, Jindal Panther, My11Circle, MRF, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5, Wild Stone and Thums Up come on board
e4m Staff Disney Star has signed nine broadcast and digital streaming sponsors for the upcoming Asia Cup.
Charged by Thums Up, Nerolac Paint+, Amazon Pay, Jindal Panther, My11Circle, MRF, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5, Wild Stone and Thums Up have come on board for the upcoming tournament.
As reported earlier by exchange4media, Disney Star has sought Rs 26 crore for the co-presenting sponsorship on TV and Rs 30 crore for Disney+ Hotstar.
According to industry sources, the associate sponsorship on Star Sports has been priced at Rs 19.66 crore, whereas for the ‘powered by’ sponsorship on Disney+ Hotstar, the broadcaster is seeking Rs 18 crore.
As per the information available with exchange4media, Disney+ Hotstar has three sponsorship tiers-- co-presenting (Rs 30 crore), powered by (Rs 18 crore) and associate sponsorship (Rs 12 crore). The broadcaster is offering an estimated reach of 120-140 million for co-presenting sponsors, 90-100 million for powered by and 60-70 million for associate sponsorship.
A spot buy for 10 seconds has been priced at Rs 25 lakh for the India vs Pakistan matches, while for the non-India matches, the ad rate for 10 second is Rs 2.3 lakh. The India matches plus the final for ODIs has been priced at Rs 17 lakh per 10 seconds.
Asia Cup is scheduled to be held from 30 August, 2023, to September 17, 2023.
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Sorted 360 wins creative & social media mandate of Reliance Mall
The agency will manage offline and online campaigns for Reliance Mall
Sorted 360, an integrated creative and social media agency, has won the mandate to providing brand solutions for Reliance Malls across India.
“Sorted 360 is set to enhance Reliance Malls' market presence with their unparalleled creative prowess and strategic thinking,” read a press release.
“Sorted 360's commitment to pushing the boundaries of creative communication aligns perfectly with Reliance Malls' ethos. With a pan-India presence spanning across 19 cities and growing, Reliance Malls has consistently captivated customers by offering an array of Reliance brands and third-party fashion & lifestyle brands. The mall has established an unparalleled connection with its patrons through superior quality, a remarkable value proposition, and an unmatched shopping experience,” it read further.
"We are thrilled to welcome Sorted 360 as our trusted partner in advancing our brand presence across the nation," said the Head of Marketing at Relaice Malls. "Their proven expertise in retail, shopping center management, and innovative creative strategies make them the perfect fit for our vision."
"Partnering with Reliance Malls is a testament to our commitment to shaping extraordinary brand experiences," remarked Prerana Anatharam, Co-founder of Sorted 360. "We are excited to leverage our strategic and creative acumen to further elevate Reliance Malls as the epitome of convenience, choice, and excellence."
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KlugKlug onboards Hemang Mehta as Country Manager for Indias
Mehta was most recently Head of Agency Relationships at Network 18 Media & Investments
KlugKlug has appointed Hemang Mehta as its Country Manager for India.
Mehta will play a pivotal role in driving KlugKlug's growth and expansion within the Indian market and be responsible for Sales & GTM Strategy
Prior to that, he has also represented organisations like Exponential (now VDX.tv), India Today Digital and Rediff.com. His expertise spans various domains including digital media sales, mobile marketing, media planning, and buying, social media marketing, and more.
Hemang Mehta expressed his enthusiasm about joining KlugKlug, saying, "I am thrilled to be a part of KlugKlug, a forward-thinking platform that is reshaping the influencer marketing landscape. As much as I look forward to collaborating with the exuberant team at KlugKlug, I am super excited to interact with the brands to deliver powerful data-backed Influencer solutions that will guarantee business outcomes."
Commenting on the appointment, Kalyan Kumar, Co-Founder and CEO of KlugKlug, stated, "We are excited to welcome Hemang Mehta to our team as the Country Manager for India. His extensive experience in digital media sales and marketing will be instrumental in driving our efforts to provide influencer marketing solutions to our clients. We believe Hemang's leadership will be key in scaling our operations and expanding our reach within the Indian market."
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