The global pandemic has had a profound impact on our sleep, stress levels and general mental health - and the additional financial strain on those facing job uncertainty or unemployment is yet another burden to deal with.
Healthcare professionals are increasingly recommending practising mindfulness activities, such as meditation, to help people cope with stress anxiety, along with eating a healthy, balanced diet where possible and keeping as active as you can.
With this in mind meditation app Headspace has announced it is offering free subscriptions to all unemployed and furloughed workers in the UK for a year. According to the latest ONS figures, between March and May 2020 the number of workers on the UK payroll fell by more than 600,000. Figures also show approximately 9.1 million people are currently on furlough.
Andy Puddicombe, co-founder of Headspace, said: "We know how devastating unemployment can be, and the stress, anxiety, and health concerns that it can lead to. Obviously, mindfulness cannot change the circumstances of the pandemic, but it can help to provide essential tools for managing stress at this difficult time."
Anyone currently out of work or furloughed can register for the free Headspace Plus subscription here, which will give free access to all 1200+ hours of meditation and mindfulness content, including sleep and mindful movement exercises. There are also six meditations now available which have been specifically tailored to anyone currently coping with job loss under the 'Living through unemployment' section.
The Plus subscription is already free to NHS workers.
