Is your work productivity dipping at the moment? This could be why

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Is your work productivity dipping at the moment? This could be why

It’s fair to say that we all have a lot on our minds at the moment. The cost of living crisis is dominating news headlines, and our day-to-day conversations, too. And many of us are having to take a hard look at our finances in order to navigate the time ahead of us.

Financial worries can affect each of us in a number of different ways, most commonly stirring up feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression. But a new study from Censuswide and Unum has highlighted the way that it might be affecting us at work.

What they found was that 29% of UK workers said financial worries from the cost of living crisis had negatively impacted their productivity at work this year, with 31% expecting this to continue into 2023. A further 40% said that their worries about financial pressure leave them feeling physically tired, and 32% said that the pressure keeps them up at night.

From there, it’s easy to see how an individual may slip further into mental health struggles. In a Mind survey of more than 1,000 people, 73% reported that when their mental health is poor, they struggle more to manage their money, and 74% also said that difficulty managing money then went on to affect their mental health – a demonstration of the cyclical trap that financial trouble can turn into.

Money worries can also lead to feelings of isolation. Generally, we don’t find it easy to talk to others about our concerns, even (and sometimes, especially) those who are close to us. We can also feel pressure to put on a front – to continue to turn up to pricey social events when, really, we don’t have the spare cash to do so. Overall, the situation can feel quite hopeless, but Mark Till, CEO of Unum UK believes that workplaces should be stepping in to help employees.

29% said that financial worries had negatively impacted their productivity at work

“Our research captures some major red flags in the lack of support from businesses and the resulting impact on productivity, as well as physical and mental health,” Mark says. “With only 15% of workers expecting their productivity to improve in 2023, employers need to be aware of the long-term implications of not helping employees during the current difficult economic climate.

“High-quality employee benefits and support services are essential, but employees can’t utilise these unless they’re aware of them. Communication and embedding these benefits are critical, as well as enabling a culture where employees feel they can speak freely about concerns and understand where to go to access early intervention support.”

Are you aware of the support that you might be entitled to? Read our guide to checking your Employee Assistance Program, and we’ve also got advice for managing your money and your mental health, as well as dealing with financial shock.

A solution for financial worries often feels out of reach. Afterall, if the problem is ‘lack of money’, most of us don’t have the ability to conjure up some more. But when it comes to managing the feelings caused by the worri

10 things to try in December to benefit your wellbeing

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From a lesson in upcycling to a botanical winter walk, and a podcast about the latest films, try something new with our enriching suggestions

1. Page-turners

10 things to try in December to benefit your wellbeing

Chatter: The Voice in Our Head (and How to Harness It) by Ethan Kross

We often have a tendency to be our own worst critic, with negative self-talk sending us into a spiral of self-doubt. But how do we harness this and take back control? Award-winning neuroscientist and psychologist Ethan Kross provides us with the tools needed to befriend our inner voice, and turn it into something more productive.

(Out now, £10.99)

2. Out and about

Visit a botanical winter garden

With the winter season upon us, there is no more magical a time to visit a botanical garden. Take a brisk walk through the gardens, and explore the seasonal plants and wildlife. It’s a wonderful place to learn about nature and embrace the wonders of winter, all while reaping the wellbeing benefits of the outdoors.

(Search for botanical winter gardens in your your local area)

3. Act of kindness

Help an elderly person stay warm this winter

It’s no secret that we will all be looking for inventive ways to keep ourselves warm this winter amid the cost of living crisis and cutting back on heating bills, but it’s especially important to help elderly individuals in any way we can. If you know someone that will struggle this winter, you could donate a blanket or hot water bottle, or invite them over to warm up at your place and have a nice catch-up.

10 things to try in December to benefit your wellbeing

4. Lend us your ears

‘10/10 (Would Recommend)’

Are you having trouble deciding what to watch on TV? Hosts and best-friend duo Gena-mour Barrett, who works for Netflix, and Tolani Shoneye discuss the latest must-see films and guest recommendations to help you beat indecisiveness on your cosy night in.

(Available on all podcast platforms)

5. Plugged-In

Dan Nguyen

Travelling around the world is something many of us dream of doing, but how much better would it be to bring your pet along for the ride? Lawyer Dan Nguyen went viral on Instagram after documenting his heart-warming travels across the globe with not one, but three cats. Follow their daily adventures if you need to put a smile on your face.

(Follow @spongecakethescottishfold on Instagram)

6. Lesson Learned

Upcycle with Lego

Do you have a broken piece of furniture that you’re going to throw away? Maybe you have some Lego lying around, that your children played with once and never again? Get creative and use Lego to repair your broken household items, and be part of the revolutionary growth of upcycling.

10 things to try in December to benefit your wellbeing

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“Christmas creep” - what is it (and how can we navigate it)?

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Feeling the pressure to pull off a great Christmas this year? You could be falling victim to the “Christmas creep”

“Christmas creep” - what is it (and how can we navigate it)?

“Christmas creep”. It’s a phrase we’ve seen floating around recently, but what exactly is it and why might the phenomenon be putting a strain on our mental health?

In a nutshell, the phrase has been attributed to merchandisers and retailers introducing and advertising their Christmas-themed goods before the start of the typical holiday season, and it seems to be happening earlier each year.

For many of us, the passing of Halloween marks the beginning of the festive season but how soon is too soon when it comes to retailers introducing their Christmas goodies? Well, some argue that the Christmas creep is, in fact, putting people off their holiday shopping as it has been found to trigger early stress (and that’s why we’ve left it until now to discuss).

With still over a month to go until the ‘big day’ and in the current economic climate, it’s no wonder people are feeling the pressure to ‘nail’ another Christmas this year. In an attempt to motivate us to get spending sooner, the phenomenon is actually forcing us to consider that Christmas is “just around the corner” (when it really isn’t). This can be contradictory as many of us start to feel the pressure to spend and, instead, retreat in an attempt to delay our festive shopping.

The Christmas season is meant to be a time of joy - getting together with our loved ones and sharing fond, happy memories. But the desire for quality time with our nearest and dearest can become overshadowed by the thoughts, “what will I get X for Christmas?”, “Is so and so doing gifts this year?”, “If they’re getting me something, I ought to get something for them”, “How much do I spend?”.

Sound familiar? When we get held up by these consuming thoughts, it’s easy for us to be put off by the festivities and the Christmas creep certainly doesn’t help. Unlike the Grinch, retailers really can steal the Christmas spirit.

What effect does the Christmas creep have on our mental health?

Whilst there is little research on the subject, the Christmas period is generally a stressor for many people. It can cause feelings of anxiety, low mood or depression, and loneliness and may trigger past trauma, particularly for those estranged from their families.

There are a number of reasons why the season can contribute to poor mental health, and the Christmas creep exacerbates this.

Workload and stress


Typically, the ‘head’ of the family has to put in the legwork during the festive period, buying gifts, and doing the dreaded food shop, all whilst managing their own workload - in their job and around the home. Early school and work closures for the Christmas break mean less time to cram all this in, so the demands increase. Whilst some people might be grateful for the early start, for many, the Christmas creep only prolongs feelings of stress and overwhelm.

Managing expectations

When we traditionally think of Christmas, we think of a flamboya

Joe Sugg on growing through changes and starting a new life chapter

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Joe Sugg experienced a decade of extraordinary achievements, amassing millions of followers, and incredible career firsts, but in parallel he encountered phone addiction, anxiety, and overwhelm. Now, he’s starting a new chapter, sharing his love for a the great outdoors, a slower pace of life, and the vital role therapy plays in it

Joe Sugg on growing through changes and starting a new life chapter

Joe Sugg may have shot to fame as a YouTube creator, but today it’s the feel of his fingers in the earth rather than on a keyboard, and garden planning instead of filming content, that occupies his mind – and he looks incredibly happy about it.

Speaking from his home on a decidedly autumnal morning, Joe proudly shares that he’s entered a new stage in his life. He’s turned 30, moved to the countryside with his partner Dianne Buswell (who he met on Strictly Come Dancing in 2018), and he’s now actively immersing himself in the wonder of the natural world, and all the mood-boosting goodness it has to offer.

“The move has certainly slowed my mind down, and getting out of the busyness of London helped me to find a bit more clarity on what I wanted to do going forward,” Joe explains. “I’ve had an amazing 10 years on social media and YouTube, and I’m not going away anytime soon, but I’m starting a new chapter of my life.”

The couple’s big move was prompted by Joe’s new-found love of planting, which developed during the pandemic, and led him to consider the role the great outdoors has played in his life. Having grown up in rural Wiltshire, he knew that there was happiness to be found with the ability to reconnect with nature on a daily basis. “It’s a lot better for me,” Joe muses. “I’m more relaxed out here in the countryside.”

Joe documented the positive impact country life and time spent outdoors has on his mental health in his new book, Grow. He also shares his experiences with anxiety, burnout, and overwhelm, revealing that he struggled with phone addiction for some time.

“There was a period in my life where I spent too much of my time scrolling through what everyone else was doing, just constantly absorbing information,” he says. “By the end of the day, I’d go to bed and think ‘What did I do today that was actually productive or helpful?’ I felt like I’d wasted an entire day.”

Seeing people constantly using their phones around him could have given Joe a reason to ignore these concerns, but his gut told him that this behaviour needed to be addressed.

“I found it really hard to admit that I thought I was addicted to my phone,” he explains. “I’m not really someone who is addicted to anything else, so what was surprising is how it slipped under the radar. I was like, ‘Hang on a minute, if I showed someone my phone habits and how much time I spend scrolling, they would probably say it’s an addiction.’”

Joe Sugg on growing through changes and starting a new life chapter

Joe started to make changes by imposing

How to support a mythomaniac relative

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Do you know someone who is prone to exaggeration? Or perhaps their version of events strays into all-out fantasy? If someone you care for demonstrates pathological lying, they might be experiencing mythomania – but getting support is a real possibility

How to support a mythomaniac relative

Loving someone who frequently alternates reality at their convenience is a difficult task, and requires infinite amounts of patience. Especially if that person is undiagnosed, and you have no idea how to act or combat their tendency to compulsively lie.

Maybe, like me, it took you years to realise that your loved one is struggling with mythomania, and the thought of talking to someone else about it terrifies you. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Since we’re talking about a complex and often misunderstood disorder, that affects both the mythomaniac and those around them, underestimating it only results in broken relationships and undesirable consequences, as mythomaniacs may even break the law without being aware that they are doing it.

Now that you know the risks of remaining silent, let’s look at what this disorder is, how it manifests, and what the possible treatment options are for your loved one.

What is mythomania?

According to the experts, mythomania, also called pathological lying, is the strong impulse to magnify reality to either play the victim or hero. Once it becomes a habit, mythomaniacs can use lies to:

  • Protect themselves from being held accountable.
  • Seek attention.
  • Take revenge on someone by causing turmoil and conflict.
  • Try to emulate the exaggerated version of themselves that lives in their heads.
  • Get a break from what feels like a monotonous life.

As you can see, mythomaniacs use lies to shape reality to their liking, and to help them, we must identify the root cause – the initial thing or things that made them feel insecure or threatened, and prompted them to use lies as a protective measure.

Counsellor, and director of Hope Therapy, Ian Stockbridge, explains: “They potentially can come from a variety of places, but I think that childhood trauma and childhood insecurities, more generally, and a wish to constantly please your caregivers, your parents, and to protect yourself in vulnerable situations as a child, can be associated. I think we can potentially learn at a very young age that to lie can be a protective factor.”

Are there types of mythomania?

Since every mythomaniac has a different reason for lying, that is, a different root cause, it’s difficult to classify them between those who lie to perpetuate their fantasy, and those who do it for the thrill of positively or negatively influencing their environment.

“I think the problem with mythomania is that it isn’t recognised by the DSM5, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual version 5, as being a psychiatric disorder, so it doesn’t get split out in any diagnostic sense,” Ian explains. “I think, from a therapeutic point of view, it is more about recognising that there can be different underlying causes associated with it rather than different types of it. For e

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