By Claire West
Freelancers should be aware of working pressures as they return to work from the summer holiday season, following research announced today by Crunch Accounting. Crunch found that three quarters of those surveyed (76%) are experiencing exceptional levels of stress and most put this down to the current economic climate.
Crunch Accounting’s new research (amongst readers of www.freelanceadvisor.co.uk) reveals that 60% of freelancers feel that stress levels are impacting their day-to-day work-life. A further 16% reported that stress had a substantial impact on their everyday happiness.
The impact of the recession, long and unpredictable work hours and poor cashflow were named as reasons for the spike in stress levels.
The new survey also reveals how freelancers are tackling their stress levels, with the majority of them turning to exercise to combat their worries. Of the business owners surveyed, a third (34%) recommended swimming, running or gym sessions as their most successful stress relief remedy.
A further 22% prefer playing their favourite music, while 15% find solace in more relaxed options like yoga, meditation and Pilates. Therapy, counselling and a good old-fashioned holiday were also listed as successful stress relief options.
Darren Fell, Managing Director of Crunch Accounting, said the results reveal how difficult working life and stress has become for Britain’s army of freelancers and microbusiness owners. He also commented on how out of touch the government is with the average small business owner and their rising stress levels saying: “We conducted this research because we know just how tough conditions are for the UK’s small and micro business owners at the moment. While it’s interesting to see how they are combatting stress, with remedies like exercise, the real relief needs to come from much higher.
“This spike in stress levels reaffirms the long overdue need for the British government to extend more support to SMEs by reducing red tape rather than increasing it, easing freelancers' workloads and allowing them to continue driving the UK's economic recovery,” added Fell.
