Mental health issues are now the number one workplace illness, according to a new study, with 2 in 5 workers admitting to suffering from stress and anxiety during their career.
The study by B&A and released by Friends First, found that mental health issues emerged as most prevalent amongst younger workers, with almost half of under 35s having taken extended sick leave (more than one week) due to stress or anxiety.
More generally, 4 in 10 workers reported having taken extended sick leave due to an accident or illness with the resulting sick leave period being on average 14 weeks – with many workers finding themselves without income when on sick leave.
Despite being aware of the prospect of their income being interrupted due to unexpected sick leave, 2 in 5 of those surveyed admitted to having no plan and no idea what they would do if they found themselves on sick leave with no income.
One in two said they would dip into their 'rainy day' fund, while 2 in 5 said they would turn to family and friends for financial support
"The research shows that mental health has the potential to impact on us all and the effects of stress and anxiety know no boundaries when it comes to age, gender or profession," Karen Gallagher, Protection Director with Friends First, said.
"It is also concerning to see that despite a strong level of awareness around the potential to be without an income in the event of extended sick leave of over one week, a large cohort of workers remain financially unprepared.
"Income protection as a form of cover is often overlooked in the false optimism of our ‘it won’t happen to me’ attitude.
"I would really implore income earners to think about taking steps to safeguard one of their most valuable assets, their ability to sustainably earn a living."
Ever since its first episode was aired in September 2013, Peaky Blinders has become a pretty popular TV series, with season four attracting an audience of 3.3 million.
The award-winning drama stars (the very beautiful) Cillian Murphy, Helen McCroy, Tom Hardy and a whole host of other incredible actors, and has been aired on BBC Two ever since it first started.
However, times are a-changing and while season five will hit TV in 2019, with six and seven confirmed by showrunner Steven Knight, it won't be on BBC Two.
Talking at the Edinburgh Television Festival, BBC Director of Content Charlotte Moore explained that the fifth season will be moving over to BBC One instead.
“When a show really pops like that, it feels like a really good moment to put it on the biggest channel in the country.”
Steven hopes the move will help them reach an even bigger audience, saying the show has been allowed to grow through word of mouth.
"Peaky is a show nurtured and grown by the audience who have found us through word of mouth. Hopefully, this move will help us reach even more people."
Simon Cowell, the British music mogul, television king, and the former Mr Nasty of talent shows, is officially a 'star' in his own right.
Simon received his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame yesterday and was obviously chuffed with the whole thing.
Simon basked in the spotlight as he reflected on his career, which spans three decades, and his time as a reality show judge, record producer and creator of long-running franchises "The X Factor," "America's Got Talent" and "Britain's Got Talent".
"If anyone says fame is a bad thing, I don't know what you're talking about. It's the best thing in the world,'' the 58-year-old said.
Simon shot to mainstream fame in 2001 when he became a judge on one of the pioneering talent shows, Pop Idol, which gave Will Young and Gareth Gates their big breaks and gave birth to the shows we know and love like American Idol, The X Factor and Britain/America's Got Talent.
He started his speech off with a typical Simon joke, ''why did this take so long? I’m kidding''
He went on to explain how he was a huge fan of America TV and movies growing up
''It is so surreal I cannot tell you. Lauren, you’ve been my rock for the past few years. Put up with everything I put up with, '' he addressed his girlfriend of five years and mother of his four-year-old son, Eric.
''I was also thinking about today was who would have got a bigger kick out of this? My mom and dad. And they’re not here, but I have a feeling are looking down.''
His many protegees have been coming out with kind words as he accepts this honour.
He was accompanied by Kelly Clarkson, the first winner of American Idol.
She gushed about his talent for spotting authentic people with real talent.
"He appreciates you being yourself, and that's very rare. In this industry I think people just want you to fit in to something," the Grammy-winning singer said.
He was joined at the unveiling by "America's Got Talent" judges Heidi Klum, Howie Mandel and Mel B, British "X Factor" winner Leona Lewis and One Direction's Louis Tomlinson.
There are few things we truly truly love in this world, but our beds are up there on the list along with our mammies and our dogs.
Some of us are just emotionally attached to our leabas, and there is nothing wrong with that.
Here's a few home truths that us bed lovers can totally relate to:
8. There is nothing you can't do in bed.
And no, we don't mean that in a sexual way (or maybe we do, who knows?)
What we actually mean is, you could write a thesis, cook a four-course meal and raise your first born all from the comfort of your own bed if you had the opportunity.
7. Sometimes you like your bed more than the people you live with.
On that never-ending bus commute home from work, we're more likely to think longingly of seeing our comfy beds than seeing our parents/boyfriends/house mates.
Sorry, not sorry.
6. Seeing your bed at the end of a long day brings a sense of euphoric joy.
We can only imagine that the feeling we get when we lay down on our beds is the feeling that most people have on their wedding days, no?
5. You spend an embarrassing amount of money on your bed.
Every time Penneys gets a new homeware collection, you're straight in there getting some new matching duvet sets, fluffy throws and decorative cushions.
Because it's important to invest in the things you love, right?
4. Going to bed early is the bomb.com.
You cannot beat the feeling of snuggling up early in bed, knowing that you have the opportunity to get a good snooze or even spend an extra hour scrolling mindlessly through Instagram before hitting the hay.
Either way, you get to spend more time in leaba land so it's a win-win.
3. Sometimes, you don't even want to go to sleep because then your time in bed will be over
Seriously, sometimes we dread the gentle lull of sleep because we know that then it will be all too soon time to wake up.
It's a conflicting glass case of emotion.
2. Getting up in the morning… we can't even.
Leaving the toasty burrito of blankets that is bed in the mornings is torture.
If we could wear our duvets for the day, we would. Don't try us.
1. Waking up early on a Sunday morning…
…but lazing in bed for hours with tea, a book, the radio or a good movie is what we can only imagine heaven to be like.
Seriously, don't even try to move us from our blanket nest.
As thousands of religious tourists descent on Dublin for the World Meeting of Families this weekend, it's undoubted that tourist hot spot Temple Bar will get some more visits than usual.
In one of the area's quieter corners, a green tarp has been draped over a poignant memorial art work ahead of the Pope's visit.
The 'Somebody's Child' memorial lists the names and birthdates of children who died in care in Ireland, as an homage to their loss.
Below the names are empty silver nameplates to signify those children who were not properly buried, or were buried without names or records.
Outrage ensued on social media, as it was assumed that the art piece was covered up so as not to be seen by religious tourists.
However, the creator Mannix Flynn has confirmed to District Magazine that the memorial is closed for refurbishment, so that new temporary work can be added.
'Mannix Flynn has confirmed that the netting was erected as the piece is being updated ahead of the weekend.' reads an updated Instagram statement.
'I appreciate the concerns of people who thought that someone was covering up ‘Somebody’s Child’ work and Disband the Artane Band panels but the person who took the image and put up the blog last night inciting people to tear down the protective netting never bothered to ask me, as I was on the site putting up the net, what was happening,' Mr Flynn wrote in a blog post.
'I invite anybody who has any concerns to come to the site today as we inaugurate the new temporary work.'
'I monitor this site every day as it has been attacked a number of times. Indeed Dublin City Council Planning Department is legally threatening me to take down some of the work but that’s another issue. I will be seeking your support on that.'
We are completely devastated that Idris Elba will not be taking on the the role of James Bond in the upcoming film.
The Luther star recently confirmed his absence from the 007 film.
We can only guess whether his rejection of the role has any correlation with director Danny Boyle’s recent exit from the film.
Just three months before filming was scheduled to start, the Oscar-winning filmmaker suddenly stepped down from his director role.
A post from the James Bond official Twitter account said: “Michael G. Wilson, Barbara Broccoli and Daniel Craig today announced that due to creative differences Danny Boyle has decided to no longer direct Bond 25.”
Michael G. Wilson, Barbara Broccoli and Daniel Craig today announced that due to creative differences Danny Boyle has decided to no longer direct Bond 25. pic.twitter.com/0Thl116eAd
Good Morning Britain reporter Divya Kohli spotted Idris at the premiere of his directed film Yardie and eagerly asked him to confirm rumours of his role in the upcoming film.
The reporter asked if he was ‘looking at the next 007’, to which Idris simplu replied, ‘No' , without any further explanation.
Perhaps, The Wire actor could not imagine a 007 film without the visionary Danny Boyle’s involvement.
Or has this hesitation been brewing in Idris’ mind for a while now?
In an interview with The New York Times in October, the talented actor confessed his worries about only being cast because he was black.
“It’s interesting that the James Bond thing continues to go. I think it’s more about, we just want to have a black guy play James Bond rather than Idris Elba the actor play James Bond. That’s the part that I’m like, ‘Ugh, come on,’” he revealed.
Either way, it seems we have to say goodbye to our hopes of seeing Idris play the becoming role of the suave, skilled intelligence officer.
So, who does that leave in the 007 line-up? Rumours continue to mill around a few other male actors, including Aidan Turner, James Norton, and Tom Hardy.
Summer is just over and the autumn is calling our names.
That means shorter days, darker evenings, unshaven legs and it being acceptable to have a Baileys hot chocolate four nights a week.
Just me? Oh, well, you're all missing out.
So what's the perfect autumn cosy-couch-viewing? Sally Rooney, author of the fantastic Conversations with Friends, is coming to our rescue on that front.
According to Stylist, Sally’s upcoming book, Normal People, is set to be adapted for TV by BBC Three.
It's based around the book, which follows the lives of Marianne and Connell, who both hail from a small town in the west of Ireland and end up as students in Dublin's Trinity College.
It explores how people grow and change as they navigate their way through young adulthood and the interesting people that they meet along the way.
“I feel very privileged to be working with such an extraordinary team on the adaptation of Normal People. I’m looking forward to the challenge of working in a new form, and of thinking about these characters and their lives in new ways,” Sally said.
The cherry on the cake?
It will be directed by Lenny Abrahamson, who's work includes Room, The Killing of a Sacred Deer and The Lobster.
Lenny said that, “Sally is a writer of the highest calibre and in Normal People she captures the ebb and flow of intimacy and desire with extraordinary skill.''
“I’m proud to be part of bringing her work to the screen audience it deserves.”
So, if awkwardness, humour and romance are up your street, then look no further.
Normal People is due to hit our screens in January and we assure you, you will not want to miss it.
Coconut oil has been all the rage in recent years, not only as a 'superfood' but also as a moisturising lotion, hair treatment, and smoothie supplement.
Health gurus previously believed that the fatty acids in the oil had numerous benefits, including weight loss and improved brain function.
However, it has recently come to light that the oil may not have any of these positive effects at all.
In fact, the so-called ‘superfood’ could actually be harming your health.
A video recently went viral showing a Harvard professor discuss recent discoveries made about coconut oil’s chemical makeup and its effect on the human body.
Dr Karin Michels is also director of the Institute for Prevention and Tumor Epidemiology at the University of Freiburg and is considered an expert on the matter of health.
In her speech titled “Coconut Oil and other Nutritional Errors”, she discredited the pros of eating superfoods, saying that we get enough nutrition from everyday foods like fruits and vegetables.
Karin went on to debunk the ‘healthy coconut oil’ myth, explaining that its saturated fats are like 'pure poison'.
Large amounts of fatty acids are evident in the oil’s solid state at room temperature, and the esteemed professor warned the public that it is 'one of the worst foods you can eat'.
According to the British Heart Foundation, coconut oil is almost 86% saturated fat, which is even higher than butter (52%).
Diets high in saturated fats can potentially lead to various health issues including high cholesterol, heart disease, and stroke.
Karin’s findings have reopened the discussion of coconut oil’s impact on our health and revealed its true identity as a potential health hazard.
Period week is probably the hardest time of the month when you are trying to be healthy.
Thanks to those hormones, all you want is to crawl onto the couch under a blanket with a bottomless carton of cookie dough ice-cream.
While cramps, bad skin, back and breast pain are on the menu, there are good food options you should try and include in your diet to make you feel better.
Iron is your friend…
Losing blood probably means you are running low on iron, which makes you feel weak, tired, probably moody, and could lead to anaemia.
To prevent it, choose food that provides a good amount of iron, such as clams, mussels, red meat, leafy greens, beans and legumes.
Dark chocolate is also a good source of the mineral, should you need another reason to always keep a supply at your desk.
… and so is vitamin C
To enhance iron absorption, you need to make sure to get enough vitamin C, which also helps you feel more energised.
Good sources of vitamin C are kiwis, oranges, mangoes, strawberries, as well as broccoli and peppers.
Don’t forget magnesium
While magnesium is essential to prevent premenstrual syndrome (whose effects include mood swings, irritability, anxiety, bloating, fluid retention, breast pain or headaches), it is also an important nutrient you need during your period, as it helps relieve muscle pain, stress and tensions in the body.
Go for bananas, nuts, spinach, porridge, quinoa and dark chocolate and you should meet your daily needs.
Calcium calms the cramps
Calcium has been shown to help reduce menstrual pain so if you suffer from cramps, watch your calcium intake.
Dairy products are obvious sources of calcium but almonds, kale, broccoli, oats, spinach, beans and tofu also provide a healthy amount of the mineral.
Good fats are anti-inflammatory
Salmon, sardines and mackerel are among the good sources of Omega 3, a fatty acid that helps combat inflammation. If you don’t like fish, avocado and rapeseed oil also contain a lot of Omega 3.
Do as well as you can, but no pressure…
We know it might be hard to find motivation to go to the gym and reach for healthy food at that time of the month, but maybe you could, say, eat your ice-cream, but have a healthy stir-fry beforehand to make sure you get all the nutrients you need?
She wore an exquisite Elie Saab Couture gown and bespoke Christian Dior shoes.
There was strewn lights and a redwood forest and we are simply in awe of Hilary Swank's stunningly beautiful Californian wedding.
The Academy-Award winning actor tied the knot with her partner of two years, social venture entrepreneur Philip Schneider in the dream setting.
The 44-year-old bride spoke about her romantic day to Vogue, gushing, “it was timeless. There is just no other way to describe it.''
“I was overwhelmed with such gratitude and thanks to be marrying the man of my dreams and to see all the people we love together in the middle of such a profound setting. It was truly a dream come true.”
Hilary's dad walked her down the aisle, only a few years after he was recovering from a lung transplant.
Her wedding dress was – wait for it – made of 25 meters of Chantilly lace, eight meters of silk chiffon, and six meters of organza silk – and it took 150 hours to create.
OMG, is all we have to say to that.
“I’ve loved Elie Saab for years and was thrilled to have him design my dress,” Hilary says.
“I wanted something romantic that felt as timeless as the redwood grove where we were to be married, and he delivered – designing something that far surpassed my greatest expectations. It was everything I imagined and more.”
The ethereal theme continued throughout the day, beginning with the couple marrying beneath a family of 800-year-old trees, and carrying on to the reception, which took place in a 100-year-old rustic barn, illuminated with hundreds of globe string lights.
Could this day get any more dreamy?
It seems so, as after the reception, the newly married pair had a surprise for their guests.
They performed a Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers–style tap dance choreographed to Moby’s In My Heart.
“I doubt we completely pulled off the modern-day version of Fred and Ginger, but we had fun, and our family and friends seemed to enjoy it.''
Congratulations to the gorgeous couple – we wish them a lifetime of happiness together.
The study conducted byFit Rated, took 1,000 Americans and analysed their body image, self-esteem and the importance of physical appearance based on their social media habits.
They were then split into three groups: the first was the 'non-user' who spent zero hours on the platforms.
The second was the 'average user' that spent an hour or two exploring the socials.
And, lastly the 'avid user' who browsed social media for three hours or more a day.
Avid social media users did trump those who didn't use social media, in terms of self-esteem and satisfaction with their overall appearance.
However, the addicts of the platforms scored highest when asked how important their physical appearance is – (59.5 percent said their look was very to extremely important.)
The champ of social media came out as the average user.
They had the most self esteem and satisfaction overall with their appearance compared to the other two groups.
Selfie results
Moving back to selfies and these findings have us SHOOK.
Typing this in disbelief, I can report that the study found avid selfie takers have better self-esteem AND satisfaction with their overall appearance. – WHAT?
People who don’t take selfies have the lowest self-esteem (38 percent) and are most dissatisfied with their overall look (48 percent).
Selfie results
Fit Rated found that people who took more selfies on average – i.e. three or more every month were better off.
"More than half of people taking even just a couple of selfies (or more) each month were more likely to have high self-esteem compared to the nearly 45 percent not taking any at all."
"Additionally, almost 54 percent of people taking three or more selfies each month were satisfied with their overall look compared to less than half taking one or two selfies and under 38 percent of people who took none at all," said the study.
Selfie results
However, before you spam your feed with endless selfies – likes and the social media game comes into play.
Ever catch yourself repeatedly checking how well your recent picture did – well there's a dopamine hit for every heart or like we get.
This can impact our relationship with our bodies and self-esteem.
Supposedly, those who got 20 or more likes were more likely to rate their physical appearance as very or extremely important, particularly among women compared to men.
However, men and women who received a higher number of likes on their selfies also rated their self-esteem higher, and men who received a higher number of likes were more likely to be satisfied with their overall looks.
People were also hot on the button to delete a picture because of the lack of likes – incredibly the likeliness of this has increased by 185 percent in men and 110 percent in women.
At the end of the day, we all must remind ourselves that 90 percent of what we see on social platforms are fake – people do not look like that in real life.
All you need to do for a reality check is to look up from the phone on the bus and have a look around.
Now, I'm off to post a selfie and pray that it gets more than 20 likes…
