In a recent study over half the people surveyed (52%) said they only feel fully relaxed for just a couple of hours each week, and nearly a third (31%) put reducing their stress at the top of the wish list, followed by spending more time with their family and friends, and feeling more confident (27% and 25% respectively).

The research – commissioned by Anamaya, providers of Mindfulness training, to examine the impact our stress levels on work and home lives – shows that the environment we work in is one of the biggest contributors to stress levels. Being in a happy and welcoming atmosphere was listed as the most important aspect in peoples’ lives, with 40% of them saying that their work environment is more significant than financial benefits such as pay and and pensions.

Almost a third agreed that they felt mind training and meditation could make a real difference to their day-to-day stress levels but a quarter were unsure how to integrate mind training into their busy schedules.

How to do it

In my workshops, I regularly demonstrate how it can be done, with a two-minute exercise which I recommend attendees use five times a day. That’s all it takes to start the ball rolling!