Research over the past decade has explicitly demonstrated work related stress to be associated with a whole range of illness, including heart disease, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, depression, exhaustion, skin rashes, anxiety and weight gain.
Now another study by researchers at University of Rochester Medical Center lead by Diana Fernandez, an epidemiologist at the URMC Department of Community and Preventive Medicine has found almost 75% of the employees’ studies were overweight or obese .
As the recession bites deeper and more people become unemployed, those who survive lay-offs are finding themselves under increasing work demand making them highly likely to suffer from work related stress .
The recent strikes by British Airways (BA) cabin crew highlight the immense pressure staff and their families are placed under as a result of work disruption to make their issue heard by the management of BA. Work related stress doesn’t just impact the employees but their families and especially children who are able to pick up on their parents’ distress and cannot make “sense” as to the reasons.
Exercise appeared to be significant in dealing with stress and keeping a healthy weight especially for those with sedentary work.
Studies have now conclusively shown meditation to be highly effective in reducing stress and also greatly contributing to better physical, emotional and mental health .
Dav Panesar, researcher and teacher of mindfulness and other meditation practices said, “As the recession begins to bite even harder, many employers are recognising the increasing pressures on their staff. Many have contacted us looking at providing meditation based measures to help with the rise in work related stress”.
EXERCISES:
Mindfulness (by Dav Panesar)
Symran (by Dav Panesar)
