In Equilibrium 31

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In Equilibrium 31

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THIS MONTH
  1. In Equilibrium Events: Conference News
  2. Stress Tip: Say NO to TV dinners!
  3. Quote: Mahatma Ghandi
  4. Book Review: "Change the World for a Fiver"
  5. Al's Column: High Tech Happiness
  6. Web Resources: We Are What We Do, Plants at Work
  7. Stress Technique: Inject Some Greenery into Your Life!
  8. Your Thoughts

1. In Equilibrium Events:  Stressed Out Public Sector Conference

In Equilibrium is running some major conferences this Spring and Summer.  Stressed Out Public Sector is about, yes you guessed it, stress in the public sector.  This conference takes place in London on 5 April.  Managing Mental Health and Well-being at Work looks at the broader issue of mental health and well-being, and how we can manage people so that they are satisfied and happy at work, rather than dissatisfied, depressed and anxious.  This conference takes place in London 9 May and Edinburgh 20 June.  There are early booking and bulk discounts, and an extra 15 % off for chariites.  Hope to see you there!  Please check out the website for details.

2. Stress Tip: Say NO to TV dinners 

Research has found that children who have meals with their parents are much less likely to suffer from anxiety or stress disorders.

If you live with another person, and you don't do it already,  why not think about ways to make this happen, even if it's just a few times a week.  It could do you both the world of good.

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3. Quote

"There is more to life than increasing its speed"

Mahatma Ghandi (1869-1948)

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4. Book Review: "Change the World for a Fiver" We Are What We Do - a project of Community Links

This is a very short book with the subtitle "50 actions to change the world and make you feel good".  Reading it made me feel good and it only took 15 minutes, so I am guessing completing the actions will have an even more positive effect!  Here are a couple of examples.....

"The medical side effects of giving blood: 1. Slight euphoria 2. Puffed up chest 3. Broad smile"

"Save the world while brushing your teeth.  Most people leave the tap running whilst brushing their teeth.  This wastes up to 9 litres of water a minute or 26,000 litres of water per family, per year."

I think this book is a great gift for a friend, it has that effect where, like looking at old photos, you realise you are grinning from ear to ear, and you can't help yourself!

The ethos behind the book is that "We are what we do - Inspiring people to use their everyday actions to change the world"  It is well worth the £5 in my opinion.  Each page has a short description of what the action involves and it covers everything from the environment ( putting chewing gum in the bin, using a mug instead of a polystyrene cup) to personal development (join something, do something you think you can't do).

You might be wondering what relevance does this have to the workplace and business....here is a quote from an article about the book in the Guardian:

"Alot of the business support was attracted at a breakfast hosted by Gordon Brown at 11 Downing Street earlier this month.  It was there that Justin King, Sainsbury's Chief Executive, placed an order for 26,000 copies, and other assembled entrpreneurs hailed the book as "a work of genius"

Do you have any thoughts/opinions on this or any other book review you have read in In Equilibrium?

Please click here to email us your comments.

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5. Al's Column: High-tech happiness?

How happy are you?  I wouldn’t put myself in the delirious category, more ‘reasonably chuffed’ with my lot.  Out there in the big bad world, I see a lot of unhappiness, misery and depression, even in the so-called ‘normal’ working population.

My colleague, David, calls this the ‘psychiatric iceberg,’ related to the fact that mental health services deal with only a tiny percentage of the adult population, despite 30% of us having a mental health problem in any one year.

Perhaps I should have asked you ‘how happy are you at work?’  Evidence suggests that stress and dissatisfaction at work are strongly associated with mental ill health.  In fact, the correlations are shockingly high.

But why are we so unhappy and dissatisfied with our life and work?  Why this epidemic of anxiety and depression?  Theories abound.  Here’s one of mine:-

Mental illness is a disease of disconnection.  People might argue that ‘we’ve never had it so good’ and we live in a time of unprecedented prosperity and progress, yet there is almost no connection between financial and emotional well-being (except in the case of poverty).  My theory is that prosperity and progress have inadvertently fuelled disconnection and unhappiness for many.  Perhaps modern life has, with its technology, become ‘too easy’ and we have become lazy and unhappy as a consequence.

Take mobile phones and e-mail.  Have they made us happy?  Kids want, and whine interminably, for a mobile until we buy them one.  We adults want a better one than we’ve got, with a thunderbirds ring tone, with 24/7 web access to bare naked ladies (or bare naked men, if you prefer), and 3G, whatever that is.  But there are major drawbacks with both mobile phones and e-mail.  With mobiles, we are always contactable, unless you switch it off (I recommend this highly), and they lead to noise pollution of the worst kind.  E-mail is potentially worse still.  They pile up continually, contributing to overload and lack of control.  We get the wrong end of the stick and get upset.  We sometimes get the right end of the stick and still get upset.

But the worst thing about ‘communications’ technology is their effect on (real) communication.  Increasingly, we’re spending less time with real people.  Virtual sex is no substitute for the real thing.  Even if it is sweaty and messy, it’s ultimately far more satisfying!

The same is true of conversations.  I’m sure I mentioned in a previous column the robust research that showed increases in rates of depression correlated strongly with increases in personal use of the Internet.  I was surprised when I first read this, but it makes sense on reflection.  Mainly, when we use technology, it’s a solitary activity.  Many happiness-inducing and joy-giving things are, on the contrary, communal activities.

This is a hugely important issue, particularly for workplaces.  Dissatisfaction leads to mental ill health at work and mental illness is bad for business.  My view is that we need a total rethink on work, well-being and technology.  I think we should adapt technology to our needs, not the other way around, so that work is more satisfying and enjoyable.  If technological progress means disconnected, depressed and stressed out employees, then what kind of progress is that?  Perhaps we should take another look at ‘low-tech communications technology,’ (speaking to people), and cut back where we can on ‘high-tech’ for the good of our mental and emotional health.

Which brings me to my plug.  We are organising 2 conferences on ‘Managing Mental Health and Well-being at Work,’ one in London on the 9th May and one in Edinburgh on the 20th June.  It’s an issue that affects all of us.  There are some great speakers and I hope you can make it.  Please check it out on the ‘website.’

Why not try out some low-tech communication today.  How about: getting up from your desk and going to speak to a colleague; kissing your partner or spouse (who knows what that might lead to); eating with other humans; switching off the mobile; dancing (highly recommended); spending quality time with your dog or cat (it’s good for you both); going out with a friend; turning off the telly for a night; giving someone a hand; or even (and I know this is risky), engaging your boss in conversation!

Low-tech communication.  Good for the soul.  Guaranteed.

Alan Bradshaw

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6. Web Resources: We Are What We Do, Plants at Work
We Are What We Do

This is the website linked with the book reviewed above.  It can help you to keep a tally on what actions you have completed and also get involved.  There are various video downloads and screensavers too. 

Plants at Work

See our stress technique below....further ideas and information on this website.

7. Stress Technique: Inject some Greenery into your Life

Did you know that a classic study looked at hospital patients who looked out onto green spaces and discovered that they healed faster and needed fewer painkillers than those whose view was a brick wall (Ulrich 1999)?  One study found that spending as little as five minutes each day taking care of plants will lower your blood pressure.  In addition, a Washington State University study discovered that when plants were around, people who performed stressful computer tasks had 12 percent quicker response times and lower systolic blood pressure.

You don't need to live in the country to inject greenery and fresh air into your day.  Perhaps you could build some nature into your day by tending the garden,  sitting on a park bench for five minutes, or even just open the window and get a pot plant for your desk!

8. Your Thoughts

Do you have a story to tell? We would be happy to call you for information on any issues loosely relating to stress, health, performance and motivation.  Or alternatively please write to us.

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