Some interesting research is being done at the University of Washington on the effects of a mindfulness meditation practice and real-world multitasking at work. Three groups of 12-15 human resource managers were recruited for this study. One group was enrolled in an 8-week mindfulness meditation training, another in a relaxation training, and the third was not enrolled in anything. The third, or control group, was enrolled in the mindfulness meditation group after the first 8 weeks of the study. Before and after each 8-week period participants were given a stressful test of their multitasking abilities, requiring them to use email, calendars, instant messaging, telephone, and word-processing tools. The researchers measured their speed, accuracy, and the extent to which they switched tasks. The also noted self-reported levels of stress and memory while performing the tasks. The mindfulness meditation group reported lower levels of stress, tended to stay on task longer, but completed the job in the same amount of time as the other groups. The relaxation training did not have a reduction in stress but did, as did the meditation group, have an improvement in memory. When the control group was finally trained in mindfulness meditation, it, too, enjoyed all the same benefits noted above.
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