A daily problem

Stress is a part of modern life, but does it need to have such a negative effect on our lives? Some sources, including the Health & Safety Executive, estimate that stress affects one in five of the working population – including everyone from the newest recruit to a company director.

Stress has consistently been one of the most commonly reported types of work-related illness cited in the national Labour Force Survey (LFS) conducted by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Work-related stress caused workers in Great Britain to lose 11.3 million working days in 2013/14  – which has increased since 2011/12  when  the figure was 10.4 million working days in 2011/12 –  based on the Labour Force Survey (LFS) (source: the  Health & Safety Executive).

The facts

The latest estimates from the Labour Force Survey show:

• The total number of cases of work-related stress, depression or anxiety in 2013/14 was 39 per cent, out of a total of 1. 241milllion cases for all work-related illnesses.
• The total number of working days lost due to work-related stress, depression or anxiety was 11.3 million in 2013/14, an average of 23 days per case of stress, depression or anxiety.
• The industries that reported the highest prevalence rates of work-related stress, depression or anxiety (three-year average) were human health and social work, education and public administration and defence.
• The occupations that reported the highest prevalence rates of work-related stress, depression or anxiety (three-year average) were health professionals (in particular nurses), teaching and educational professionals, and health and social care associate professionals (in particular welfare and housing associate professionals).

Causes of stress at work

The main work activities suggested as causing work-related stress reported to general practitioners are:

• Workload pressures including scheduling, shift work and other organisational factors;
• Interpersonal relationships including difficulties with superiors and bullying or harassment; and
• Changes at work including reduction of resource or staff and additional responsibilities.

These days more and more companies realise that spending some money on the well-being of their staff can help improve productivity and efficiency. A government report has concluded that for every £1 invested in wellbeing you can expect a £2.50 worth of gained productivity and efficiency.

The solution

Using his experience as a meditation teacher and yoga teacher, Gary offers courses, including one-off taster sessions, aimed at reducing stress.

The format can be designed to suit the group: it can be a yoga class, a meditation class or a seminar-style explanation of how stress can be reduced using these techniques.

The courses are designed to be taught in the workplace (companies and organisations) and also privately (one-to-one basis or small groups).

These can be run as a course over a limited time period, or, as a regular event (for example, weekly or monthly) – to fit in with the company’s timetable and budget. The sessions can take place in any room, eg conference/seminar room, and depending on the type of session, chairs can be used and no need to change for the session (eg if meditation and seminar is the form).

The sessions consist of advice on how to reduce and manage stress, as well as useful techniques that the individual can learn on the courses. These include mindfulness meditation and similar meditation techniques, along with breathing exercises, based on yoga pranayamas.

If a yoga class is requested, the above is covered as well as exercises to help improve physical health and well-being.

They are accessible and easy to learn – suitable for everyone, and an effective way of reducing stress and bringing balance to our lives. And in terms of work, this can help concentration levels and decision making – as a stress-free mind has the space and clarity to think properly.