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Arianna Huffington brought her influential and successful Third Metric conference to the UK this week.
As the first international edition of the conference that took place in New York in June, it is clear that it may be something that British people desperately need. In 2012, stress and depression resulted in over 10 million lost workdays in the UK. In the same time period, stress was responsible for 40% of all work-related illnesses.
Overworking, feeling constantly burnout, sleep deprived, and having no quality time with family and friends isn’t working; especially not for women. Overworking is a global phenomenon that needs to be stopped.
According to the World Health Organization, over 350 million people around the globe currently suffer from depression. In the UK, prescriptions for antidepressants have risen 495% since 1991. It’s truly shocking!
Some of the panelists at the UK conference included Mark Williams, professor of clinical psychology at Oxford and ordained minister, and Rich Pierson, co-founder of meditation app, Headspace. The panelists talked about the benefits that meditation can have on our health and general well being, including boosts to the immune system, an increase in memory and physical stamina, as well as decreasing anxiety.
Headspace is definitely worth a download to your cellphone, with celebrity users including Emma Watson and Gwyneth Paltrow.
I’m continuing to implement techniques and tips from the third metric into my own life. I now prioritize sleep, turn off devices before bedtime, and take time to get a regular dose of fresh air during my workday.
We all need to make these changes in our everyday lives, taking a proactive, global approach to tackle the stresses and strains that can bring us all down. Make sure you check out The Third Metric on The Huffington Post and make the change today!
