“I’m tired” are words that most employees say on a Friday or Monday, but employee burnout is significantly rising.
Burnout impacts a significant portion of the UK workforce, with one-fifth of employees experiencing its effects, as the number of long-term sick leave cases reaches a record high.
According to a distinct study conducted by the CIPD and the insurance provider Simplyhealth, a staggering 76% of respondents noted instances of stress-related absence within their organisations in 2023.
Mental Health UK’s research identified several factors contributing to burnout: heavy workload or increased task volume (54%), working unpaid overtime beyond contracted hours (45%), and experiencing feelings of isolation in the workplace (42%).
Neurodiverse conditions such as ADHD are highly susceptible to frequent burnout as stress, and hyperfocus hinders frequent rest periods.
Finding a well-being tool to help prevent burnout is essential – and one that is little talked about is Non-Sleep Deep Rest (NSDR). NSDR, also known as Yoga Nidra or deep relaxation, works extremely well to relieve stress. I include its practice in every 60-minute Laughter Yoga workshop that I deliver to corporate organisations, both in-person and online.
Like Laughter Yoga, it isn’t in the conventional Yoga format with poses and stretches. Typically, each practice lasts between 20 and 30 minutes and is best done lying down in a quiet place with darkness, comfort, and warmth. There is no need to be a seasoned Yogi to practice, and it is not spiritual.
During the practice, breathing exercises, calming visualisations, and body scans promote deep relaxation. This can be done at any time of day (although falling asleep at night after Yoga Nidra practice is common).
I suggest Yoga Nidra to my clients if they struggle to remain asleep at night, have a sleep deficit, are close to burnout, or are experiencing frantic times when energy levels dip very low.
Personally, when my energy levels are low, you’ll often find me in bed with a 20-minute Yoga Nidra to revive again! I’ve found it helpful to set intentions and positive affirmations during the practice for mental strength.
Yoga Nidra perfectly complements Laughter Yoga, so we schedule 15-20 minutes in our 1-hour sessions to practice it. This equates to around 2 hours of restful sleep. I take participants into the deepest sleep – the delta brain waves – and afterwards, they feel more energetic, revitalised, and relaxed.
I have personally experienced 8 benefits of Yoga Nidra:
Quality of sleep
You are less likely to have disturbed sleep and insomnia, and by encouraging your body to step into the deep delta sleep state, your energy levels get boosted.
Stress reduction
Activates your parasympathetic nervous system for rest and digestion. Deep relaxation for the whole body and mind, switching off from the outside world. It is hydration for your nervous system.
Sleep deficit
You can catch up on your lack of sleep to work productively and feel revitalised after your Yoga Nidra practice.
Personal growth
Personal growth and self-awareness of your needs for happiness – a deep reset of emotions, placing things in perspective.
Creativity and problem-solving
An improvement in concentration and focus and greater mental clarity.
Challenges
Serenity when handling challenges.
Pain management
By way of deep relaxation – it can help symptoms of IBS and chronic illness associated with high stress levels.
Self-repair
The body’s natural system of self-repair through being in the deepest sleep.
In conclusion, Yoga Nidra, non-sleep deep rest, is powerful and improves sleep by reminding the body how to rest, which is vital for our physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
A daily practice essentially enhances your overall quality of life and happiness levels.
Are you ready to prevent burnout within your team and let your staff replenish their energy levels by using Yoga Nidra?
Please email Sara on happy@seriouslaughter.co.uk for more information about their Yoga Nidra and Laughter Yoga sessions.
To gather wellbeing tools, head to – https://bit.ly/SLNEWS007
