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Why you should make time for On Pause

Melissa Starker, Creative Content & PR Manager

Jun 05, 2019

A session of the On Pause mindfulness and meditation program at the Wexner Center for the Arts at The Ohio State University

Summer sessions of On Pause with our partners at Replenish: The Spa Co-Op start Wednesday, June 12, offering art lovers an opportunity for mindfulness and meditation amid the works on view in our galleries. Each is scheduled from noon to 1 PM to fit the standard lunch hour and structured to allow participants to come or go at any time during the session.

But since so many of us are in the habit of eating at our desks—and some workers even feel uncomfortable breaking for lunch—we understand that you might need more incentive to leave work than the vague, zeitgest-y concept of "self-care." So here's some data to back up the benefits of engaging with art and meditation. Feel free to share it with your boss.

There's long been evidence to suggest that even a short trip to an art gallery can reduce stress and cortisol levels.
In 2014, the Journal of the American Medical Association collated data from nearly 50 separate trials and found evidence of measurable improvement in anxiety, depression, and pain among those who practice meditation.
Meditation can have a positive impact on cardiovascular disease without the cost or the risk associated with traditional medical treatments, according to The American Heart Association.
Dealing with an injury? Mindfulness and meditation can help you avoid making it worse and it could actually help you heal faster.
In response to studies indicating women are more interested in and see more benefits from meditation, Thrive Global collected information specifically on what men can get out of it.
Since Columbus is a haven for startups, here's a rundown of how it can benefit entrepreneurs.
Attention, local creatives: mindfulness and meditation can make you better at what you do, too.
Meditation isn't just good for you—if you practice it, it may also reduce negative emotions in your partner and other people with whom you regularly interact.
And if you make a habit of meditation, a 15-minute session can make you feel like you took a full vacation day.