Contents

What is World Wellbeing Week?

When is World Wellbeing Week?

Why Do We Celebrate World Wellbeing Week?

7 Initiatives Companies Can Offer During World Wellbeing Week?

1. Invite a Wellbeing Speaker
2. Provide Office Massages
3. Organise Fun Wellbeing Activities
4. Provide Wellbeing Workshops
5. Start a Book Club
6. Yoga
7. Mindfulness Session

What is World Wellbeing Week?

Wellbeing World organises World Wellbeing Week every year. It provides us with the chance to raise general knowledge of the various components of wellbeing.

This comprises social, physical, emotional, and financial, professional, community, and environmental wellbeing.

World Wellbeing Week also serves as a platform for the world’s major organisations to host their own events.

It demonstrates their appreciation for their valued workers, consumers, partners, and suppliers while highlighting their wellbeing strategies and activities.

When is World Wellbeing Week?

World Wellbeing Week takes place every year during the last week of June and is now in its sixth year.

The 2024 World Wellbeing Week takes place from June 24^th to June 28^th.

The 2025 campaign is due to take place from June 23^rd to June 27^th.

Why Do We Celebrate World Wellbeing Week?

World Wellbeing Week is an excellent chance to discuss all things wellbeing.

Whether it comes to our mental or physical wellbeing, having a dedicated week to highlight this can help improve lives across the world.

The week provides an opportunity to raise awareness about the diverse aspects of wellbeing.

It helps to give individuals confidence to share personal journeys and promotes awareness on practices that can enhance our quality of life.

The goal of the week is to increase the general knowledge of the many aspects of wellbeing.

World wellbeing week acts as a reminder that without our health we are unable to do the things that are meaningful to us.

It is often only in sickness that we appreciate our health and the week offers a reminder about this.

Although wellbeing should be taken seriously all year round, this week helps to remind us all, why our wellbeing matters.

7 Initiatives Companies Can Offer During World Wellbeing Week?

1. Invite a Wellbeing Speaker

A wellbeing speaker can help to highlight the importance of our wellbeing.

Through engaging storytelling and passionate delivery they inspire audiences to prioritise their health and happiness.

Speakers often share practical tips, personal anecdotes, and evidence based strategies to create a balanced and fulfilling life.

Companies who empower their workforce to support their wellbeing can expect increased loyalty, productivity and morale.

By addressing various aspects of wellbeing, such as stress, healthy living, and mindset, a speaker can empower employees to make positive changes in their lives.

2. Provide Office Massages

Hiring a massage therapist to come to the workplace and give massages is a lovely initiative for world wellbeing week.

Massage can help to relax, rejuvenate and de-stress employees.

On-site massage is given on a specially designed massage chair in a relaxed setting, and is delivered through their clothing.

Massages are delivered on the upper back, head, neck, and shoulders are tailored to each individual client.

Sessions can take anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes but employees love this initiative.

3. Organise Fun Wellbeing Activities

Wellbeing activities can provide a fun and engaging way to step away from the day to day running of a business.

These activities can be a great way to bring people together, promote health, and encourage healthy employee connections.

Workplace connections are critical in supporting employee wellbeing.

A healthy work environment helps employees to feel safe, valued and appreciated.

Check out our blog on 15 Fun Wellbeing Activities for Team Meetings.

4. Provide Wellbeing Workshops

Workshops on employee health are an essential part of supporting employee wellbeing.

Wellbeing workshops are a fun and collaborative method for an organisation to offer practical health support and knowledge to their staff.

Employees are able to learn valuable insights during a workshop setting that provide actionable strategies to support their health.

Wellbeing workshops can also be performed as part of a lunch and learn which is a great workshop-style when it comes to looking after staff wellbeing.

Check out these 27 Corporate Lunch and Learn Ideas.

5. Start a Book Club

Reading is a fantastic way to contribute in supporting our wellbeing.

Many individuals find it relaxing, as it promotes mental stimulation and emotional balance.

Through reading individuals are able to gain new perspectives and improve knowledge.

A book club could inspire people to read the same book and then discuss it at each meeting.

This not only encourages reading but it promotes connection among individuals and creates a culture of continuous learning.

Book clubs are a low-cost, high-return method to build a sense of community among employees.

Whether they all work in the same office or are dispersed across the world.

It promotes positive working connections and provides something for everyone to speak about.

6. Yoga

Yoga is a great low-intensity exercise that can raise heart rates without exhausting employees before the day starts.

It can be introduced to employees as an excellent fitness option to support their wellbeing

Yoga helps to keep employees physically active, healthy, and flexible.

Employees who participate in yoga may notice less tension and muscular tightness after a few lessons.

It may also increase productivity, focus, and enjoyment at work, as well as enhanced posture and physical wellbeing.

Why not hire a yoga instructor as part of your wellbeing week.

7. Mindfulness Session

Companies can also consider incorporating mindfulness sessions into their World Wellbeing Week initiatives.

This can help to promote mental health and enhance workplace productivity.

Mindfulness practices help employees manage stress, improve focus, and create a sense of calm.

Offering sessions like this can show a company’s commitment to the holistic wellbeing of their staff.

This can create a supportive and healthy work environment.

Encouraging mindfulness not only benefits employees’ mental health but also nurtures a culture of self-care and awareness within a company.

This can lead to a more engaged and resilient workforce.

It’s important to remember that World Wellbeing Week gives us a moment to reflect on the importance of our health and wellbeing.

However, this is important all year round.

Embrace the practices and insights shared throughout this week to enhance you and your colleague’s wellbeing.

Whether it’s through workshops, exercise, or simply taking time for yourself, every little step counts.

Please continue to prioritise health and support those around you in a journey towards a happier, healthier life.

Author 

Tyler Lowe – Health & Wellbeing Speaker

BSc Sport & Exercise Rehabilitation

The post World Wellbeing Week 2024 appeared first on Loving Life.

Contents

What is Physical Wellbeing?

Why is Physical Wellbeing Important?

How Can we Improve Our Physical Wellbeing?

How do You Promote Physical Wellbeing at Work?

How Can We Look After Our Physical Wellbeing While Working From Home?

4 Steps to Improve Physical Wellbeing (Video)

Are There Companies That Offer Training On Physical Wellbeing?

What is Physical Wellbeing?

Physical wellbeing is the ability to maintain a healthy and balanced life without physical limitation, physical stress, and excessive fatigue.

Our physical wellbeing refers to the physical state of our body, whether that’s maintaining a healthy weight, good posture, well-functioning organs, or the ability to carry out normal daily tasks without exhaustion or discomfort.

Physical wellbeing can also refer to the absence of disease or infection but these are not the only things to consider.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines physical wellbeing as being a key factor when it comes to our overall health.

Why is Physical Wellbeing Important?

When it comes to our wellbeing, the physical aspect can play a huge part in our mental and social wellbeing.

When we take care of our physical wellbeing, it helps to align our wellbeing overall.

Having positive physical wellbeing can reduce our chances of disease and infection. The NHS shows that many health conditions can e reduce by having positive physical wellbeing.

For example, those that exercise have a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, colon cancer, coronary heart disease, stroke, early death, and more!

Those that exercise regularly can reduce their chances of early death by 30%!

Physical wellbeing isn’t just about exercising and doing things that impact your body positively. It’s also about avoiding things that impact your body negatively.

Those that smoke regularly are damaging their physical wellbeing and can increase their chances of health risks in lots of areas.

Approximately 90% of all lung cancer deaths are those that smoke.

According to the CDC, smoking is the leading cause of preventable death. Diabetes isn’t too far behind and is said to be the fastest-growing health crisis of our time.

Both smoking-related diseases and diabetes are conditions that in most cases can be prevented by looking after our physical wellbeing.

How Can We Improve Our Physical Wellbeing?

Diet

One of the easiest ways to improve our physical wellbeing is by maintaining a healthy and balanced diet. If we don’t overeat and eat the right foods it gives us less chance of many of the health concerns that exist today.

There can be lots of conflict when it comes to diet, whether that’s having a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle, or following diets like the paleo diet. I’ll leave you to work out what’s best for you but a key message I want you to take, is don’t eat crap.

In most cases, we all know the foods that are not good for us. Sweets, chocolate, sugary drinks, the list goes on, and to maintain good physical wellbeing we need to limit the consumption of this as best as possible.

Exercise

The benefits of exercise are countless and when it comes to our physical state and wellbeing, exercise can help us massively.

Exercise has been shown to have many physical benefits, including improving;

• Muscular and cardiorespiratory fitness
• Bone health and function
• Help to maintain a healthy body weight
• Mental health and mood
• The body’s ability to manage blood sugar and insulin
• Sleep
• Chances of living longer
• Core strength & balance

The list of benefits to exercising safely and effectively are endless.

If you’re someone who struggles with exercise, why not try joining an exercise class, or starting a couch to 5k running programme.

The couch to 5k programme is designed for people who don’t exercise and are literally starting from a “couch potato” status

There are lots or programmes online but here’s one we found for ease of access.

Hydration

Staying hydrated is so important when is comes to maintaining a positive physical wellbeing. The human body is approximately 60% water (depending on where you get your sources)

If you’re not staying hydrated, how do you expect your body to function efficiently and carry out the physical tasks that it needs to.

The human brain is approximately 73% water. If you’re not staying hydrated, how can you expect to think clearly, make good decisions and have an optimal functioning brain?

The WHO recommend drinking approximately 2 litres of pure water a day. If you’re exercising, then your water intake should be even higher.

How Do You Promote Physical Wellbeing At Work?

It can often be difficult to promote physical wellbeing within a work environment. You don’t want to isolate individuals or make anyone feel uncomfortable, but it’s something that needs to be taken seriously.

A happy and healthy workforce is often a productive workforce and improving employee physical health can have a positive impact on the business.

To promote physical wellbeing, education is key. Educating employees and individuals on the benefits of taking care of their physical health will help them to get off to a good start.

You can offer Lunch & Learns around different physical wellbeing topics or wellbeing webinars. These are fantastic ways to educate employees.

Other ways to promote physical wellbeing are to set challenges. Fitness challenges or health related challenges are a great way to get people motivated to take their physical health seriously.

Challenges may include a daily step challenge or a weekly exercise challenge. Asking employees to get involved is a great way to increase uptake and another way to focus on improving staff wellbeing

How Can We Look After Our Physical Wellbeing While Working From Home?

Working from home has thrown many of us out of our normal routines.

Whether we were getting in our exercise by commuting to work or the train station, or stopping off at the gym on the way to or from work, working from home has certainly had an impact on many of our routines.

Looking after our physical health at home can be challenging, especially with the fridge within walking distance, and even more so if you’re working from a small apartment.

However, it’s important to look after your physical wellbeing while working from home and these few tips will help you to work towards maintaining a positive physical wellbeing while working at home.

1. Have a good work station set up

Working from a laptop or a poor set up can impact our physical wellbeing massively. If you don’t have a good set up, you’re more likely to suffer with neck pain, back pain and many other physical discomforts.

Employers have an obligation to ensure they are looking after staff wellbeing and should provide training or assessments to reduce the chances of employees experiencing physical discomfort.

Whether that’s providing additional equipment, ergonomic chairs or monitors and laptop stands.

2. Get up and move!

The human body was built to move. It wasn’t built to sit at desks all day. Therefore, throughout our working day we must move.

Working from home means that the majority of our meetings are online and not face to face. Which means, where we would usually get up to walk to our next meeting, we’re losing the movement that would occur in that time.

Individuals should aim to get up every 45 – 60 mins to get blood flowing around the body. Studies have shown that prolonged sitting can impair the function of both the lower and upper limbs.

3. Incorporate a daily stretching routine

Stretching has shown to have many benefits, including:

• Decrease risk of injury
• Enabling muscles to work effectively
• Increase range of motion
• Reduce muscular tightness and discomfort
• Improve posture
• Decrease back pain
• And more!

There are lots of stretching routines available online and I’d recommend to start by looking at where your muscles are tightest and find stretches for those areas.

We have a few basic stretches on our YouTube channel so don’t hesitate to check that out.

4 Steps to Improve Physical Wellbeing (Video)

Are There Companies That Offer Training On Physical Wellbeing?

At Loving Life, we help companies educate employees and staff on the importance of their health and wellbeing.

Our “Improve Your Physical Health” webinar has been very popular and is a great way to educate employees and encourage them to look after their physical health.

The session involves information on how to reduce muscular related pain and discomfort, how to use tools and equipment to help look after our physical health, as well as simple and effective methods to get started looking after your physical health

A happy and healthy workforce is a productive workforce.

Author 

Tyler Lowe – Health & Wellbeing Speaker

BSc Sport & Exercise Rehabilitation

The post Physical Wellbeing & Why It’s Important appeared first on Loving Life.

This is not just a public health crisis, it’s an economic and social challenge, especially in the workplace.

Since 1980 the number of people living with diabetes has quadrupled to approximately 537 million.

This is predicted to increase to approximately 643 million people by 2030.

So, what can companies do to help prevent this health concern among their employees?

In this blog we’ll help you to understand diabetes, how it impacts the workplace, and most importantly what companies can do to help prevent it.

Contents

The Rapidly Growing Health Concern Employers Are Ignoring (Video)

Understanding Diabetes

The Importance of Employer Support

5 Practical Steps for Employers

1. Education: The Foundation of Diabetes Management
2. Promote Exercise: Encouraging an Active Workforce
3. Healthy Food Options: Fuelling the Body and Mind
4. Create Wellness Programmes: Continuous Support is a Must
5. Create a Culture of Health and Wellbeing: Health is Wealth

The Rapidly Growing Health Concern Employers Are Ignoring (Video)

Understanding Diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic health condition characterised by elevated levels of glucose in the blood, stemming from the body’s inability to effectively use or produce enough insulin.

While there are several types of diabetes, Type 2 diabetes is the most common, accounting for around 90% of all cases worldwide.

Unlike Type 1 diabetes, which is primarily genetic and involves the immune system attacking pancreatic cells that produce insulin, Type 2 diabetes is largely preventable and closely linked to lifestyle factors.

Key risk factors include obesity, physical inactivity, poor diet, and genetic predisposition.

The insidious nature of Type 2 diabetes means that it can develop slowly over time, often going undiagnosed until complications arise, making awareness and early detection critical.

Fortunately, with appropriate lifestyle modifications such as maintaining a healthy weight, engaging in regular physical activity, and adopting a balanced diet, individuals can significantly reduce their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

Moreover, for those already diagnosed, these changes can help manage the condition effectively, preventing complications and improving quality of life.

Understanding Type 2 diabetes is crucial, as it underscores the power of preventive measures and the significant role that lifestyle choices play in our overall health.

By focusing on prevention and management, we can mitigate the impact of this growing health concern and support individuals to “Live Life Better” (Our Slogan).

The Importance of Employer Support

In the face of a rapidly escalating diabetes epidemic, the role of employers in supporting the health and wellbeing of their staff has never been more critical.

Diabetes, particularly Type 2, poses significant challenges not only to the individuals affected but also to the broader organisational structure.

It can impact productivity, employee morale, and healthcare costs.

One of the most tangible impacts of diabetes on the workplace is its correlation with increased absenteeism and reduced productivity.

According to a study published in the National Library of Medicine, employees with diabetes are more likely to take sick leave compared to those without the condition.

In fact, individuals with diabetes have between 5.4 and 18.1 days of absenteeism compared to between 3.4 and 8.7 days for those without diabetes

The research highlights that individuals with diabetes may require time off for medical appointments, to manage diabetes-related complications, or to cope with the side effects of treatment.

This not only affects the individual’s health and wellbeing but also the operational efficiency of their teams and the organisation as a whole.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that the indirect costs of diabetes are substantial. These costs include absenteeism, reduced productivity, and the inability to work due to diabetes-related disability.

The CDC estimates a total of $327 billion in medical costs and lost productivity.

This situation further emphasizes the economic argument for employer involvement in diabetes prevention and management.

Employer support can take many forms, from implementing comprehensive wellness programs to fostering a health-conscious culture.

Wellness programs may include diabetes screenings and education, providing the resources needed for employees to manage their health effectively.

By offering support, employers can help mitigate the impact of diabetes on both the individual and organisational levels.

This involves creating an inclusive environment that recognises the unique challenges faced by employees with chronic conditions and provides flexible options to accommodate their health needs.

For example, allowing flexible work hours for medical appointments or providing healthier food options in the workplace can make a significant difference in managing diabetes.

Moreover, employers who actively support their employees’ health and wellbeing send a powerful message about their values.

This can lead to increased job satisfaction, loyalty, and a positive workplace culture.

Investing in health promotion and disease prevention not only aids in reducing the incidence of diabetes among employees but also contributes to a more engaged, productive, and healthy workforce.

In summary, the support of employers is indispensable in the fight against diabetes.

Taking proactive and practical steps to address the impact of diabetes on work life is essential.

Through these actions, employers can play a pivotal role.

They enhance the health outcomes of their employees and secure the health of their business.

The benefits of such initiatives extend beyond the individual, contributing to a healthier, more resilient society.

5 Practical Steps for Employers

Whether you’re a small organisation or a large established one, these are steps that can help you to combat the growing epidemic of diabetes.

1. Education: The Foundation of Diabetes Management

Education is crucial in the fight against diabetes, serving as both a preventive measure and a management tool.

Employers have a unique opportunity to empower their workforce with knowledge, making education a pivotal first step.

By organising regular workshops, online seminars, and health talks led by professionals, employers can provide valuable information on the risk factors, prevention strategies, and management of diabetes.

This initiative not only raises awareness among employees but also equips them with the tools they need to take charge of their health.

Incorporating educational resources into the company’s wellness program, such as distributing informative newsletters or creating an online health portal, can further reinforce the importance of health literacy.

Ultimately, an informed workforce is a healthier workforce, making education an essential investment in the long-term wellbeing of employees.

2. Promote Exercise: Encouraging an Active Workforce

Promoting exercise is a critical step for employers aiming to combat diabetes within their workforce.

Regular physical activity is known to improve insulin sensitivity and help manage blood glucose levels.

This makes it an essential component of diabetes prevention and management.

Employers can encourage a physically active workforce by introducing initiatives such as subsidized gym memberships, on-site fitness classes, and creating walking or cycling groups for commuting.

Encouraging employees to implement walking meetings and take active breaks during the workday can also contribute to increasing daily activity levels.

Organising company-wide challenges or fitness events can foster a sense of community and motivation among employees to stay active.

Check out our “7-Day Wellness Challenge” It’s a great way to encourage employee health.

By creating a supportive environment that values physical health, employers not only aid in the prevention of diabetes but also contribute to overall employee wellness.

This leads to a more energetic, productive, and healthy workplace.

3. Healthy Food Options: Fuelling the Body and Mind

Offering healthy food options at work is a vital step employers can take to support diabetes prevention and management among their employees.

Nutrition plays a key role in regulating blood sugar levels, and by providing access to nutritious meals and snacks, employers can make it easier for employees to make healthier dietary choices.

Initiatives could include partnering with local vendors to supply fresh, whole foods, installing healthy vending machines, or offering fruit baskets and healthy snack options in common areas.

Employers can also organise nutrition workshops or cooking demonstrations to educate employees on how to prepare balanced meals that support blood sugar management.

Implementing a policy that encourages healthier food options during meetings or company events can further reinforce this healthy eating culture.

By prioritising nutritional health in the workplace, employers can help employees maintain stable energy levels throughout the day.

This can improve focus, productivity, and overall wellbeing, all while combatting the risk of diabetes.

4. Create Wellness Programmes: Continuous Support is a Must

Creating comprehensive wellness programs is an essential step for employers dedicated to fostering a healthy workplace environment and combating diabetes.

These programs should offer a holistic approach to health, addressing not just physical wellbeing but also mental and emotional health.

A well-rounded wellness program might include components like health screenings for early detection of diabetes and other health conditions, wellness workshops, smoking cessation support, mental health first aiders, exercise classes, and more.

Employers can also introduce incentives for participation, such as rewards or competitions, to encourage engagement and motivation among employees.

To ensure these programs meet the diverse needs of their workforce, employers should seek input from employees on what types of support and activities they would find most beneficial.

Additionally, providing flexible participation options can help accommodate different schedules and lifestyles.

This helps to ensure all employees have the opportunity to engage.

By investing in wellness programs, employers not only aid in the prevention and management of diabetes, but also contribute to a culture of health.

This benefits all aspects of employee wellbeing, leading to a more satisfied, productive, and resilient workforce.

5. Create a Culture of Health and Wellbeing: Health is Wealth

Cultivating a culture of health and wellbeing is essential in the fight against diabetes and in promoting overall employee health.

This means creating an environment where making healthy choices is both encouraged and easy.

Employers can lead by example, showing their commitment through participation in wellness programs and making health-conscious decisions part of the company’s identity.

To embed wellness into the company culture, consider initiatives like flexible schedules for exercise, spaces for relaxation, and policies that encourage healthy behaviours.

Celebrating health achievements and sharing wellness tips and success stories can reinforce the importance of health.

Key to this cultural shift is making sure wellness is inclusive, accommodating diverse health needs and preferences.

By doing so, employers not only support diabetes management but also build a workplace where everyone feels valued and motivated to maintain their health.

Overall leading to a more productive and satisfied workforce.

To conclude, the fight against diabetes is an opportunity for employers to champion workplace wellness.

By prioritising a healthy workplace culture employers can significantly impact diabetes management and prevention.

These efforts not only enhance employee health but also contribute to a more engaged and productive workforce.

The commitment to employee wellbeing is an investment that benefits everyone.

At Loving Life, we help companies support the health and wellbeing of their employees.

Get in touch to see how we can work together to support your workforce.

Author 

Tyler Lowe – Health & Wellbeing Speaker

BSc Sport & Exercise Rehabilitation

The post Diabetes | The Rapidly Growing Health Concern Employers Are Ignoring! appeared first on Loving Life.

But it can be helped!

Employers have the power to turn the tide by implementing methods that support their employees.

In this blog we’ll dive into burnout and discover seven strategic ways to prevent burnout and keep your team healthy, engaged, and thriving.

Let’s make workplace wellbeing a priority.

Contents

What is Burnout?

What are the Signs of Employee Burnout?

How Does Burnout Impact Our Bodies?

Why is Burnout Different From Depression?

How Can Employers Help Prevent Burnout?

7 Tips to Help Employers Prevent Employee Burnout?

What is Burnout?

Burnout is a type of exhaustion brought on by a persistent feeling of being overloaded. Excessive and prolonged emotional, physical, and mental stress causes it. Burnout is frequently linked to one’s employment.

When individuals are overloaded, emotionally tired, and unable to keep up with life’s never-ending demands, they’ve often reached burnout.

What are the Signs of Employee Burnout?

Burnout can present itself in a range of ways. Those who are experiencing burnout may notice:

• Exhaustion
• Feeling drained
• Feeling helpless or trapped
• Self-doubt
• Negative outlook
• Overwhelmed
• Procrastination

A combination of these signs may show that an individual is experiencing burnout. Burnout should not be mistaken for anxiety. Although the two may present similar emotions, they are not the same.

Anxiety is defined as “a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome”.

Burnout is defined as “a form of exhaustion caused by constantly feeling overwhelmed and swamped”

How Does Burnout Impact Our Bodies?

Burnout can have a direct negative impact on our mental and physical wellbeing.

When individuals are experiencing signs of burnout, they may experience tight or tense muscles, headaches or migraines, and sometimes pain or discomfort.

Research has shown that burnout can contribute to a range of physical issues, including:

• Type 2 diabetes
• Coronary heart disease
• Hypercholesterolemia
• Musculoskeletal pain
• Prolonged fatigue
• Respiratory issues
• Gastrointestinal issues
• And more!

Burnout can also contribute to a range of mental health issues. Those experiencing burnout can often experience anxiety, depression, lack of motivation, distress, pessimism, and more.

All of these emotions can impact our bodies negatively, reducing our ability to perform everyday tasks.

Why is Burnout Different From Depression?

Excessive stress over a long period is a common cause of burnout. Burnout is most frequently associated with work. Some people believe burnout can also occur as a result of things such as care responsibilities, parenting, or extended family relationships.

Compassion fatigue, a lack of acknowledgment and reward, working for a long period without a break, high levels of pressure, unreasonable expectations, an unmanageable workload, a lack of control, a lack of choice, and a lack of autonomy are all risk factors for burnout.

On the other hand, depression isn’t frequently brought on by a single event or condition. It is frequently influenced by several factors. We may not be able to pinpoint anything precise at all at times.

Traumatic events, medical conditions, familial situations, medicine, culture, genetics, having a child, and family history are all factors that might contribute to depression.

The root cause of depression is much harder to unravel, whereas burnout can usually be related to specific work events.

How Can Employers Help Prevent Burnout?

When it comes to the health and wellbeing of their employees, employers have a duty of care to fulfil. Companies that support employee health, invest in their wellbeing, and provide wellbeing initiatives, have been shown to:

• Reduce staff turnover
• Increase productivity
• Reduce absenteeism
• Improve employee engagement
• Reduce unsatisfied employees
• Improve company culture
• And more!

There is a range of things employers can do to help prevent employee burnout in their workplace and we’ve listed 7 tips below.

7 Tips to Help Employers Prevent Employee Burnout?

Set Realistic Expectations

One of the contributing factors to employee burnout, is having an employer, boss, or manager that doesn’t have realistic expectations of their workload.

Sometimes, managers aren’t aware of how long specific work takes to deliver. Especially if the managers haven’t had experience in those tasks. And even if they have, managers need to be aware that every employee has different work speeds.

Of course, there is an expectation that should be encouraged to be met, but this must be realistic.

Encourage Work-Life Balance

Work-life balance is critical to avoiding work-related burnout. With many employees having family and social lives, their workloads mustn’t interfere with their time off.

Employees need time to take their minds off work, detach, reset and reload.

An employer that encourages this will help to contribute to reducing the chances of employees being overwhelmed, exhausted, and trapped.

Encouraging work-life balance has shown to have many other benefits too. Some of these benefits include:

• Increased productivity
• Happier workforce
• Motivated workforce
• More engaged staff
• Less stressed workforce
• And more!

Help Employees Prioritise

Prioritising specific tasks can occasionally be difficult for employees. There may be a more enjoyable task that gets addressed before a higher priority task, and if the importance of tasks isn’t made clear, this can leave employees cherry-picking the tasks that need to be completed.

This means high priority work may get left until the last minute which can leave employees feeling overwhelmed, stressed and anxious. All of which are emotions that contribute to burnout.

Helping employees prioritise work tasks can ensure they work on the most important work first, not leaving them flustered close to its due date.

Things like goal setting webinars, one-to-one catch-up meetings, and educating staff on clear priority guidelines are all ways to help encourage and teach employees to prioritise better.

Provide Wellbeing Initiatives

Workplace wellbeing is a hot topic. Especially after the impact, we’ve seen from the pandemic.

Employee wellbeing initiatives are now being implemented all year round and not just during “World Wellbeing Week”.

Initiatives like wellbeing webinars, on-site massage, exercise classes, personal development plans, team building activities, and other employee health initiatives are all great ways to show your staff you care and support their wellbeing.

Supporting employee wellbeing can have a direct impact on reducing employee burnout and if your company doesn’t currently offer any initiatives, it’s time to take action.

Provide Support

Supporting employees can be achieved with a range of different methods.

If employees are overloaded with work, then providing assistance, easing their workload, or hiring a temp to help out, are all ways to directly support them with their workload.

It’s best to speak with the employee and ask them what they feel will be best, to ensure what you implement isn’t increasing their pressures or workload.

For example, an assistant they have to train, may increase their pressure. Communication is key to finding the best way to support them.

Other forms of support can include monthly catch-up meetings, providing additional training, providing mentoring, executive coaching, and providing helpful and actionable feedback.

Whatever you implement, make sure the employee is on board.

Allow Flexible Working

Flexible working can be a massive benefit when it comes to reducing the chances of employee burnout.

Flexible working means that employees can complete their work around a schedule that works for them.

This means that if they have childcare pressures or family pressures, they are less likely to impact their work.

Rather than panicking about who is going to do the school run or take their kids to after-school clubs, flexible working means this can be achieved.

Having a strict 9-5 policy, means that employees may be flustered when it comes to juggling work and home life.

Being flustered can contribute to feeling overwhelmed, which can then contribute to burnout. Which is definitely what we want to avoid.

Think about how a flexible working schedule can work for your business and your employees. In some job roles, this may not be possible, but where achievable, it should be introduced by all employers.

Offer Employee Rewards

Working hard for a company that doesn’t show they care can be exhausting.

As humans, we like to be appreciated for the efforts that we make.

When others express gratitude toward us it can make us feel acknowledged, appreciated, and cherished.

If we’re overwhelmed at work and don’t get any recognition for it, it can leave us feeling resentful, angry, and annoyed.

Acknowledging this among employees can help them to experience positive emotions which can then reduce their chances of burnout.

For more info on employee rewards, check out this article on “10 staff treats that will make your team love you”

Author –

Tyler Lowe – Health & Wellbeing Speaker

BSc Sport & Exercise Rehabilitation

The post 7 Ways To Prevent Employee Burnout! appeared first on Loving Life.

Whilst eating a balanced diet and getting your five a day is essential for optimal health and fitness; exercise and physical activity are just as important.

It is easy to live a life with limited natural physical exercise in the modern world, when a sedentary desk job is common and commuting to work is typically by car or public transport. This makes us aware of the importance of consciously scheduling time for exercise, whether it’s a walk in the park or some weightlifting at the gym!

When is National Fitness Day?

National Fitness Day 2022 will be on 22 September as it was last year.

Thanks to the participation of the UK’s gyms, pools, leisure facilities and internet providers, over 22 million people of all ages, skills and backgrounds were motivated to get active on this day.

Why do we have National Fitness Day?

National Fitness Day is a terrific time to start or enhance your fitness journey. By establishing a workout programme, you will notice both physical and emotional benefits.

By engaging in just 150 minutes of moderate activity each week (for adults), you are already lowering your risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer!

Since the Covid-19 pandemic highlighted the effect on mental health this has been recognised as an even more prominent concern than in previous years. Sport has long been regarded as one of the most effective approaches to counteract mental health deterioration.

People often find themselves not participating in sports and fitness for a variety of reasons, including lack of time, confidence or funds, as well as access to local facilities. Sometimes the scaremongering might make individuals feel bad for not following the advice.

Therefore, for one day, it is suggested that you set aside your guilt and excuses and have some fun being active.

4 ways companies can participate in National Fitness Day

The morale, health, and wellbeing of our workforces have never been more vital for all organisations.

The challenges faced by businesses over the last couple of years will have presented a wide range of different obstacles. There is no question that the uncertainty is here to stay for the time being; nevertheless, one thing is certain – fitness can unify us.

Individually, we know that there has been a shift in personal attitudes towards fitness throughout the global pandemic. It is now more critical than ever that employers encourage their staff to become more active.

Online sessions

With the ongoing restrictions, it’s critical that everyone feels secure when participating in exercise activities.

Online sessions will continue to promote client participation but from the comfort and safety of their own homes. With a motivational instructor leading the activity, all you need is a camera and household objects to get everyone engaged.

Loving Life offers webinars and workshops to companies seeking to improve the wellbeing of their workforce. On National Fitness Day, companies can select our tailored online energiser session or improve your physical wellbeing webinar so that their employees can get involved.

Organise an event/competition

Encourage participation with a National Fitness Day themed competition or event, such as a strength contest or a stamina-based run. This will motivate employees to compete against one another, generating interest and increasing engagement with a bit of friendly rivalry.

You might want to provide additional incentives, such as a free month’s gym membership as a reward to entice people to work out after the event.

Group Activities

Running a National Fitness Day group activity will encourage employees to be active together. This can be anything from a group swimming class, tennis lessons or even a yoga class. This is equally important for mental wellbeing. Being active together means sharing the experience with the ability to support and encourage each other.

Organise a trip to your local leisure facility

Companies might arrange for their staff to visit their local sports centre together, improving their physical health and team morale.

Gym operators and physical activity providers throughout the UK play a prominent role on the day. They deliver free trial sessions and gym passes to the public. Sports sessions, swimming, ‘plank-offs’, yoga and pilates courses, treadmill challenges, high-street HIIT (high-intensity interval training) classes, dance-offs, mass walks, and many more activities will be available to your staff so start your planning now!

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Academics have labelled the Blue Monday notion “pseudoscience” in recent years.

Whether it’s superstitious nonsense or not, there’s no doubting that many people are tired and depressed in the first month of the year.

What is Blue Monday?

Blue Monday is commonly regarded as the year’s most depressing day. This might be due to a combination of bad weather, long nights, and the lingering aftermath of the festive glut.

Dr. Cliff Arnall came up with the concept of Blue Monday in 2005, and it was released as part of a Sky Travel news release.

Due to the overall awful weather, long evenings, post- Christmas debt, and unfulfilled New Year’s resolutions, the life coach and psychologist devised a formula to identify the ‘saddest’ day of the year.

Despite being devised as a marketing strategy to entice people to book vacations, the word has already entered general use.

When is Blue Monday 2022?

The third Monday in January is Blue Monday, the supposed gloomiest day of the year. Next Blue Monday falls on the 17^th January 2022.

Why is Blue Monday the saddest day of the year?

According to Sky Travel’s press release, Blue Monday was determined by “considering a variety of parameters”. This included average temperature, days since the last payday, days until the next bank holiday, average daylight hours, and the number of nights in during the month.

It doesn’t take much thought to figure out what the underlying goal of Sky Travel’s press release was: to sell more vacations.

Regardless of whether it’s all nonsense or not, Blue Monday raises awareness about mental and physical wellbeing and gets people talking about depression, even if only briefly.

That can only be a good thing at a time when reaching out is more crucial than ever.

How can companies support their employees on Blue Monday?

Focusing on employee wellbeing as an employer will be critical, especially coming up to Blue Monday.

Not only will ensuring your employees’ health and wellbeing benefit them, but it will also benefit your company in terms of reducing absenteeism, maintaining employee engagement, and retaining people.

A company’s culture and how it works may have a substantial good or bad influence on an employee’s health and wellbeing. Consider the difference between an organisation that communicates freely and regularly, involves, and engages its people against one that has closed, inconsistent communications and has bad employee relations.

These are all aspects that lead to productive and satisfied employees. While the workplace cannot prevent all incidences of mental illness, it may help to foster an atmosphere that fosters and promotes excellent mental wellbeing.

Companies could invest in wellbeing workshops that can provide an atmosphere that promotes employee growth, empowerment, and benefits.

5 tips to get you through Blue Monday

Go workout

Exercise can benefit us in a variety of ways, whether we go for a walk or join a local gym. You will feel much better in terms of your mental health in addition to having a healthier body.

One thing to keep in mind is that you don’t have to attend a class to get more exercise. This Blue Monday, don’t overwork yourself. Set attainable workout objectives that you can achieve.

Take some time out for yourself

Don’t underestimate the value of looking within and spending some time for yourself this Blue Monday.

Taking time for yourself may help you relax and unwind. Whether you want to try meditation, relax in the bath, or get a massage. Even if money is tight until January’s payday, spending time for yourself is far from selfish and will help you be the greatest version of yourself.

Planning something new might be energising for some people. There’s no harm in making plans for the future, making action plans, and making sure the year ahead has enough ‘you time.’

Loving Life occasionally delivers free and motivational webinars, for our next one, click here.

Identify your concerns and seek help

While it isn’t always a simple process, we must be able to identify what is bothering us and work toward a solution. One way to accomplish this is to write down the problem and a possible solution or to seek expert assistance.

There are a variety of organisations that may help, such as charities like the Samaritans. It goes without saying that if you believe you or someone else is in danger, you should contact your doctor (if you have a known illness), 111, or 999 in an emergency.

Eat healthily

The food we consume has an impact not only on our physical health but also on our mental health.

Studies have revealed that eating processed or unhealthy foods has a negative impact on our moods.

This is why we should attempt to eat as healthily as possible. Try to consume plenty of fruits and vegetables, and try to prepare our meals ourselves. Simple meals made with fresh ingredients are frequently just what our bodies want, especially during stressful times.

Read a book

Only an excellent book can transfer you to another world and make you feel better as a result. Re-read a favourite book or borrow something from the library.

You may form a Blue Monday Book Club with your pals and decide to read and discuss a book together. However, if you don’t enjoy reading, there are a variety of audio novels available.

Check out YouTube book reviews with TY & FFLY here!

Although television is frequently the most convenient alternative for many, it is very stimulating and may not always be the ideal option for relaxing.

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It’s critical to choose presents for your staff that are meaningful and personal, or that make a genuine impact in their lives.

With Blue Monday, the most depressing day of the year, approaching, it is important to express your gratitude for your staff.

With lockdowns and remote working taking their toll during the gloomy winter months, we’ve compiled a list of 5 wellbeing-boosting gifts ideas to cheer up your staff.

What is staff wellbeing?

The condition of a staff member’s physical and mental health as it relates to working directly in the workplace is referred to as staff wellbeing, also known as employee wellbeing. This might involve their physical health, posture at their desk, connections with supervisors, co-workers, and clients, as well as their mental health and emotional wellbeing.

Promoting staff wellbeing is beneficial to both individuals and organisations since it may help minimise stress and promote healthy working conditions.

According to the CIPD’s health and wellbeing report, just 40% of UK firms have a distinct employee wellbeing programme, according to a poll conducted by HR managers. Furthermore, mental health is the leading cause of long-term unplanned absences, accounting for 56% of all long-term absences.

Why is employee wellbeing important?

Work is important in most people’s lives, and not simply because it provides a source of revenue. It can provide us with a feeling of purpose and accomplishment, as well as an opportunity to socialise and form connections with our co-workers.

Every year, people with mental health issues lose their jobs at a rate that is almost double that of those without a mental health issue, and considerably greater than those with a physical health problem.

Working might have a bad impact on one’s mental wellbeing at times, but it can also have a very good impact. A welcoming, inclusive workplace can assist to avoid new mental health issues and enable those who are struggling with their mental wellbeing to continue at work and flourish.

Why should you give your staff a wellbeing gift?

A thoughtful gift is sometimes the greatest approach to show your team that you care, especially if they have lately been experiencing poor moods or loneliness.

Furthermore, research reveals that actions of generosity might help enhance your staff’s mental wellbeing! It generates happy emotions, a sense of accomplishment, and may increase their self-worth by providing them with a sense of societal purpose.

Furthermore, wellbeing gifts are excellent for your company’s image. When staff feel appreciated, they will spread the news. This will result in a stronger public image and a greater chance of acquiring top talent.

5 wellbeing gift ideas for your staff

Onsite Massages

Getting a massage at the office offers physical benefits as well. At some time during the day, many people at work suffer a loss of energy. This may be related to a lack of blood flow to the body’s cells.

Traditional massage techniques increase healthy blood flow throughout the body. It also wakes up all of your cells and reactivates your brain, in addition to enhancing corporate wellbeing.

As a result of repetitive strain, office workers who are stooped over their computers all day may get substantial and chronic neck and back discomfort, muscle stiffness, and arm, wrist, and hand issues.

Getting a massage at work may assist employees in working out knots and reducing muscle stress.

Candles

Scented candles, especially those filled with essential oils, are wonderful for unwinding.

Lavender, rose, and chamomile, in particular, is known for their relaxing properties. Aromatherapeutic candles are effective in the treatment of a variety of psychological and physiological diseases. Depression and anxiety candles are particularly popular.

A candle’s warm glow provides various advantages for someone trying to enhance their sleep hygiene. A candle’s flame is a far superior option to a smartphone’s blue light.

With the capacity to reduce cortisol, scented candles can assist to promote calm and alleviating stress symptoms. Certain candles are made to trigger brain chemicals like serotonin and dopamine, which help to maintain a pleasant mood.

Exercise Workshops

Investing in a remote exercise workshop for your staff demonstrates that you care about their wellbeing. When they’re going through a difficult period, it’s more vital than ever for them to take care of themselves physically.

If you have a globally dispersed staff, video-based services might be a terrific method to demonstrate your appreciation.

Loving Life provides tailored online energiser sessions. It is possible to participate in a private live session. A two-way live stream is included in their 10-15 minute online private corporate energiser sessions. This allows employees to interact with one another as well as the instructor.

These sessions do more than keep your team in shape. During these incredibly disjointed times, they also aid team bonding.

Company retreats

Companies can benefit greatly from retreats for team building, brainstorming, and relaxed creativity. Companies could see improved cooperation and productivity during their getaways.

You might organise a one-day offsite retreat near your office or a multi-day excursion out of the country. You may be creative, have fun discussing ideas, and create an atmosphere that everyone will appreciate while preparing the perfect business retreat for your team.

Time Off

One of the finest methods to demonstrate employee gratitude is to give them time off work. This provides your staff with the freedom to visit friends, volunteer, practise a hobby, or take a brief vacation.

These additional days off do not need to be scheduled or constant. An unexpected additional day off might show a hardworking employee how much you value their efforts.

For information on 5 workshops that will support your employees’ wellbeing, check out our blog here!

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To put it simply…you can’t manage if you can’t manage people.

Being a manager is difficult because what works for one team or one person seldom applies to everyone.

What is a people manager?

People management is a subset of human resource (HR) management. It requires the process of arranging employees and forming teams in order to improve the company’s performance.

Recruiting and training suitable personnel, mentoring and encouraging each employee to attain their full potential, actively interacting across all teams, and steering all team members toward a single goal are all components of successful people management.

Many companies with a big workforce appoint people managers as a liaison between their employees and management.

People managers normally work during office hours throughout the day; however, they may work any shift based on the business’s operational hours.

People managers operate mostly in offices, although they may travel to other corporate divisions to meet HR issues at many locations.

Why is a people manager important?

People of various ages, ethnicities, and cultures make up a company. It is vital to develop good management of all aspects of a business, including employees, in order to operate it properly.

Managing these disparities and aligning with the whole team is surely a difficult task – and here is where the role of people management in the organisation comes into the equation.

Its function is to regulate professional behaviour and build teams that are happier, driven, competent, and engaged with the company goals, resulting in greater business outcomes.

What are the qualities of a people manager?

A competent people manager uses their experience and technical ability to get the work completed. However, those two elements are merely half of the narrative. As a people manager, your achievements will be based mostly on “soft skills” that are easy to overlook.

Below are the top 5 qualities needed to be a people manager:

• Patience
• Good Communication
• Empathy
• Flexibility
• Honesty

What events do people managers organise?

People managers play an important role in supporting other teams’ activities or organising their own.

It’s vital to properly organise, manage, and execute events while maintaining a secure, easy-to-join experience for participants.

Regardless of the sort of event they’re planning — sales kick-off meetings, wellbeing workshops, career fairs, or graduation ceremonies – they’ll undoubtedly be looking for methods for their employees to connect, recharge, and stay motivated.

They understand the significance of increasing morale, engaging and enlightening co-workers with clear, encouraging messages wherever they may be working.

How to be a good people manager?

Even if people management is difficult, it is still a talent that can be learned.

Here are 3 essentials that can help you better manage your employees and tasks:

Accessibility and openness

The strongest people managers are those that are approachable and accessible to their employees. They will reap the benefits of a happier team that trusts and believes in their manager if they can learn to be a good listener.

Be fair and consistent

Employees are prone to confrontation in the workplace. A competent people manager will always confront conflict, whether it’s a personal issue or a work-related dispute. They should deal with problems immediately and equitably, and they will gain the respect of their staff, as well as a more tranquil and productive work environment.

Motivate your staff

Making sure your employees are pleased and that their issues are acknowledged is the first step in encouraging them. After you’ve demonstrated to your employees that you can relate to them on a personal level, you can begin setting goals with the assumption that they will be reached.

Setting ambitious but realistic goals can motivate your staff to put in the effort required to achieve them. Set a good example by becoming a high performer, and your staff will be more inclined to follow suit.

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The workshops should provide a variety of tools and methods for everyone (staff, leaders and managers, HR, etc.) This would allow for immediate assistance and resources for all sorts of mental and physical health concerns that could arise at work.

Employees who are in good physical and mental health are more motivated, committed, productive, adaptable, and less prone to absenteeism. This makes them more likely to remain with a company for a longer period of time.

In 2020, Champion discovered that 58% of a 2,099-employee sample experienced work-related stress, with 69% experiencing moderate to high levels of stress overall.

It is believed that organisations lose 1000s of productive hours every month as a result of poor wellbeing among employees.

What is a wellbeing workshop?

Wellbeing workshops are interactive programmes intended to engage, educate, and encourage employees. This is so they can adopt positive wellbeing into their daily lives, both in and out of work.

Employees adopting positive wellbeing in their daily life can benefit a company because they are more likely to be more productive.

Stress management methods, workplace wellbeing tips, motivation and goal setting, injury prevention and suggestions on achieving a work-life balance are just a few of the topics that can be covered.

Wellbeing workshops are an excellent approach to bring colleagues together since it allows for the exchange of knowledge and the discussion of pertinent concerns. Increasing awareness can assist to normalise the conversation about workplace wellbeing and mental health, despite the stigma associated with it.

Hand-outs and toolkits provided in the session offer support to employees because they can explore the topics further themselves.

Wellbeing workshops are important because having an understanding of wellbeing strategies can promote greater calm and overall wellbeing

What are the benefits of a wellbeing workshop?

Workshops on employee health are an important element of developing a successful employee wellbeing programme because it shows that a company is fulfilling their duty of care. Workshops enable a company to deliver practical health information in a fun and collaborative way. Consider the following advantages when determining whether or not to hold an educational wellbeing workshop for your company:

5 wellbeing workshops to support your employees

Coping with stress

This workshop explores methods for lowering stress and provides valuable information, suggestions, and ideas to assist in the development of skills to cope with and manage stress.

Its goal is to educate employees and managers about stress, specifically how to recognise warning signs in the workplace.

It focuses on what stress is, how to cope with it in a straightforward yet efficient manner, self-evaluation, and alternate coping strategies.

This can benefit a company in many ways because employees who can manage their stress can help maintain a strong, healthy workplace culture that’s conducive to creativity and productivity

Improve physical wellbeing

This session examines methods for minimising bodily discomforts, giving helpful knowledge, suggestions, and ideas to enhance and maintain an individual’s wellness.

It is meant to educate people on the skills, information, and understanding required to maintain their physical wellbeing. This may revolutionise a company by motivating its staff, increasing their energy since it encourages them to remain physically active.

It concentrates on bodily discomforts, injuries, ailments, and problems that employees may be facing which as a result can affect their productivity.

These sessions can support a business because good physical wellbeing can lower the risk of sickness and infection. This means that the number of employees that call in sick can be drastically reduced.

Working from home – best practice

This workshop explores ways of reducing those physical discomforts, providing useful knowledge, tips and ideas to help improve an employee’s working from home experience.

It focuses on postural discomforts, positioning and issues that employees may be facing working from home.

The workshop also covers how a workplace configuration may impact an employee’s posture and cause pain or injury. It explains how minor adjustments may mean the difference between good and poor posture. It also shows them how to put these changes into practice.

This workshop can help reduce employee sick days considering that 8.9 million working days are lost due to Musculoskeletal disorders.

Diabetes awareness

This workshop looks at methods to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes by giving vital information. Additionally, it looks at lifestyle and habit advice and educates employees about the world’s rapidly expanding health issues.

It focuses on informing employees about diabetes, including what it is, the different types, the risks and causes, and how to prevent and avoid it.

This particular workshop can help improve employee health since diabetes is the fastest growing health condition in modern society.

Monday morning motivation

This workshop will cover how to motivate employees, which is vital since it will help them prepare for the week ahead. It is accomplished by providing essential information, activities, lifestyle and habit advice and as a result these assists employees with boosting their enthusiasm.

Movement and motivating exercises are a big part of the session and therefore the goal is to develop a clear focus for the upcoming week. This will consist of a mild physical warmup, mental relaxation, and positive thought exploration.

This workshop can help bring more innovation into a company because motivated employees are more inclined to improve the business.

Who delivers Loving Life Wellbeing Workshops?

Tyler is a highly driven young man since he takes delight in seeing the bright side of life.

Tyler travelled around Australia and Southeast Asia after obtaining a degree in sport and exercise therapy considering that is his passion. He created Loving Life in 2015 after his homecoming and hasn’t looked back since.

Not only has Tyler been able to expand his business throughout the pandemic but he’s always been able to retain a smile on his face whilst doing so.

Hosting entertaining, educational, engaging, and interactive wellbeing webinars have helped Loving Life survive these challenging times. It has also been inspiring to enhance the wellbeing of many employees because he’s helped them to ‘live life better.’

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According to WHO, in 2016, half to three-quarters of adults aged 18–65 years worldwide have had a headache at least once. Unfortunately, when compared to the general population, headache sufferers are 2 to 8 times more likely to suffer from sleep problems.

What causes a headache?

A headache is defined as pain in the head or face, which may also involve pain in the upper neck. The skin, bone, and structures in the eyes, ears, nose, and mouth are all pain-sensitive structures in the head and face. Furthermore, the major blood vessels of the brain are extremely sensitive, and they are the main organs that cause pain in vascular headaches like migraines.

The teeth and the hinge of the jaw can also cause a headache. However, the brain is not sensitive to pain and is not a source of headaches.

The main causes of headache include:

• having a cold or the flu
• stress
• drinking too much alcohol
• bad posture
• eyesight problems
• not eating regular meals
• not drinking enough fluids (dehydration)

There are loads of different forms of headaches. Primary and secondary headaches are the key two types of headaches.

Primary headaches

These headaches are ones that are not caused by a concurrent medical condition. The category includes:

• cluster headaches.
• migraine
• tension headaches.

Secondary headaches

These headaches can be caused by a range of medical conditions, including:

• a head injury.
• high blood pressure (hypertension).
• a tumour.

How should you treat a headache?

You may relieve the pain of a headache without going to the doctor by doing a few easy things. The NHS recommends to:

• drink plenty of water
• get plenty of rest if you have a cold or the flu
• try to relax – stress can make headaches worse
• take paracetamol or ibuprofen

You could also try:

Use a heating pad or hot compress – You can apply a warm towel to the sore spot. A warm shower may also be effective.

A cold pack – On your forehead, you may apply a cold pack for 15 minutes. After that, take a 15-minute pause after applying the compress to your head.

Ease pressure on your scalp or head – Hats, headbands, and even swimming goggles that are too tight can trigger headaches for certain people. The strain can be relieved by either removing or loosening them, as a result.

Dim the lights – Headaches can be caused by bright or flashing lights, even from your electronic devices. Cover your windows with blackout curtains throughout the day if you’re susceptible to them. Wear sunglasses outside and turn down the brightness on your electronic devices.

How does a headache prevent you from sleeping?

The majority of people who suffer from headaches also have sleep issues, such as difficulty sleeping or staying asleep. Sometimes your sleep issues are caused by headaches. When headaches keep you up at night, they might cause other issues the next day, such as grogginess and irritation. However, there is evidence that too little or too much sleep might cause headaches.

A common area of the brain is responsible for controlling sleep, mood, and even headaches. Therefore, it’s no accident that sleep difficulties can induce headaches because they all employ identical chemical brain signals. Depriving yourself of sleep might also reduce your pain tolerance. Your pain threshold has increased, and a headache episode is no exception. This can create an ongoing cycle of repetitive headaches and sleeping problems.

5 tips to help you sleep with a headache

1. Turn off electronics before bed

The light from televisions, smartphones, and tablets disrupts the circadian rhythm (your body’s natural sleep-wake routine) and wakes up the brain, making it harder to fall asleep. Turn off all electronic gadgets one hour before going to bed.

2. Practice a relaxation technique

Regular exercise, deep breathing, and mindfulness can help you develop relaxation abilities. This is a fantastic way to calm an overloaded mind and alleviate headaches.

If you’re a company, team or organisation that prides itself in promoting good mental and physical health for your employees, click here for more information about our Monday morning motivation webinar. You could also learn useful mindfulness techniques to use to help you sleep with a headache.

3. Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and meals too close to bedtime

Before going to bed, it’s a good idea to keep track of everything you eat and drink. Large meals, caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol, among other things, can disrupt sleep. Specifically, caffeine and alcohol constrict the blood arteries in the brain. Your blood vessels enlarge without it.

A headache or other withdrawal symptoms might arise from the increased blood flow. Whereas, nicotine can again cause blood vessels in the body to constrict, resulting in a decrease in blood flow to the brain. This results in a headache and, in many cases, a lack of sleep.

4. Sleep on your back or side, not on your front

Since your back is arched when sleeping on your front, this may induce headaches. If you suffer from headaches, make sure you sleep on your back or side, which is ideal for spine alignment. Also, curling up in a ball in the fetal position may feel instinctive, but it pulls your shoulders forward, which can create a lot of stress in your neck.

You may expect a nasty headache in the morning after your neck tenses and locks. Placing your arm above your head can also impair blood flow by cutting off circulation and putting pressure on your nerves.

5. Get a Deep Tissue/Sports Massage

A muscle that is involuntarily contracted, tight, and painful and can contribute to headaches.

Deep tissue or sports massage consists of sessions where a therapist will find and release their client’s muscular tension and tightness. This is accomplished by applying different amounts of pressure on muscle knots and then extending the afflicted areas over their full range of motion.

Teeth grinding, for example, can cause muscular tension to form around the jaw, which can result in headaches. People suffering from headaches may benefit greatly from a deep tissue or sports massage.

Patients with headaches are nearly twice as likely to have postural irregularities, such as head-forward posture and tightness in the back of the neck, according to studies. For this reason, a  qualified therapist would offer a massage of the neck and shoulders in headaches (to relax the neck and shoulder muscles) simultaneously focusing on reducing the muscular tension.

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