With a staggering 66 per cent of male entrepreneurs and 60 per cent of female entrepreneurs suffering from stress in the past 12 months, and our own research revealing business workers across the UK are spending more time than ever away from home on business the UK’s stress epidemic is reaching fever pitch levels.
We are over worked, underpaid and overstretched as a nation – with private businesses, and in particular entrepreneurs, taking the brunt of the pressure. Throughout 2017 we saw a rise in well-being programs popping up to combat the issue, from companies embracing wellness schemes such as yoga in the workplace and standing desks, to business professionals adopting the Hygge concept – there has never been a greater focus on the work-life balance.
But with working hours increasing and pressure mounting, the realities of working away from home are doing little to help entrepreneurs across the UK embrace a more sustainable level of workplace wellbeing. So, what is the solution? How can entrepreneurs win back ‘me time’ and develop a more harmonious work-life balance? Enter b-leisure, a new trend that is being adopted by business travellers across the UK. In 2017 we will see a huge rise in people optimising working away from home – research has already revealed that 81 per cent of those that have taken work trips in 2016 have purposefully combined business and leisure, while 51 per cent said they plan to do this at least once in 2017.
This shift in attitude is essential, b-leisure can become a solution to exhausting business trips and travel, providing professionals with an alternative escapism. Our own CitySuites survey of business travellers also showed that the majority, 63 per cent, never have their family come to stay with them when they are away on business, despite 65 per cent of those respondents saying they’d like to have the opportunity for them to join them at evenings and weekends.
The figures are conclusive – it’s so important that businesses and entrepreneurs alike embrace this new trend and factor in ‘downtime’ as part of their working week, be it at home or away. Wellbeing needs to be a number one priority to ensure companies remain both productive and sustainable. It’s time to fully adopt a new attitude to work – whether you choose a workation, b-leisure or just switching off your work devices and dedicated yourself to family time – 2017 needs to be the year of the harmonious work-life balance to ensure we are building the stepping stones for a more viable professional culture moving forward.