Almost one in four British workers claim they are generally stressed according to a new study. The work compiled by finance firm Legal & General also found that 7% of respondents never take holidays during the year and a key contributory factor to these high levels of stress could be that 23% of those quizzed did not leave their desks at all during their contracted working hours until it was time to go home.

The findings coincide with National Stress Awareness Day an initiative of the International Stress Management Association designed to push forward a more positive, proactive and manageable approach to stress management by encouraging stressed workers to smile.

Ann McCracken, Vice-Chair, Executive Committee, of the International Stress Management Association (ISMA) said, “We chose a smile to represent National Stress Awareness Day because smiling is such a great weapon against stress. Smiling releases feel-good hormones like endorphins and serotonin – the body’s natural stress busters. Endorphins improve our sense of wellbeing and help keep us calm, as well as helping with both physical and emotional pain and stress."

Vanessa Sallows, Underwriting & Benefits director for Legal & General's group protection business, said, "Work is very important to many people but this may lead to people becoming too absorbed in their daily routine and this can lead to increased pressure and stress. If this situation is prolonged this may take its toll on a worker’s physical and mental wellbeing and result in a range of health problems such as heart disease, back pain and gastrointestinal problems.”

(Courtesy The People Bulletin)

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