Effects of Lavender in a Stressful Working Environment
Stress is a leading factor in our lives today. It follows us through our daily routine, and can escalate to different levels. Stress can affect health and critical decisions that are crucial for everyday functioning. There are certain things in our lives that can trigger stress. Some of these triggers can be from money, bills, family, work, personal issues, and agitation. Many factors that because stress can also cause for our routines to become more difficult. It is hard to stay focused when stress takes over and controls our emotions and mental status. One of the main places that can make people more stressed is their work environment. The study will be conducting how stressed people are before and after their work schedule. The study will also see if the effects of relaxing oils will calm the stressors in our lives and make our work day more appealing. The essential oils are advertised to help the calming of the mind and body. The study will be conducted to see if there is truth to this theory and if there is a substantial progression in the need for this stress releasing therapy in the workplace.
I have worked in the public as a beauty therapist for approximately fifteen years. Stress can occur daily in everyone’s lives. It can consume us and make our days miserable instead of enjoyable. This study could change how people feel and decrease the stressful feeling they have at work. Work can be a huge trigger for stress and people will benefit if they are able to perform at work with a positive attitude. People work better who are content and not stressed or agitated. This research could help reduce stress at work, and help for a better functioning society. Being able to find a solution to help in reducing stress would make our workdays less dreadful. People become more stressed than they were before. This is due to the them trying to find solutions to the present stressors in their lives. Stress can build up and consume our lives completely. It would be beneficial to find a stress reducer in the workplace. Productivity could increase in working environments if stress was reduced or eliminated with the smell of lavender. People would be able to function clearly and have complete focus without distraction.
The essential oil that was chosen in this study is lavender. Lavender has been proven effective in other studies to help reduce depression and anxiety. This scent is used in many everyday household items. “The items include soap, body wash, shampoo, conditioners, laundry detergent, dish liquid and household cleaners” . This fragrance can come in a form of candles, popery, and sprays. The name Lavender means a wash. The wash name could also be understood as soothing and cleansing. The herbal aspect of Lavender had been known to be used for many ailments. The Native Americans used it to treat sleep problems, tiredness, and as a soothing mechanism for the spiritual mind and body. Other studies have concluded that when the scent of lavender is smelled it has a positive effect on calming the mind and body. It is a soothing technique that has been known or years as a relaxing technique.
The oils are taken from the flowery plant and used for medicinal reasons. Lavender has been advanced to being used in positions of body relaxing situations. Massage therapists and chiropractors have turned to this oil and have found it to be very resourceful. The lavender had been found to reduce tension in the body, calming the mind, and soothing relatable state when used. The lavender would be a good purpose for this study to determine if it also can help limit or ease stress for people while they are in contact with the herb. The study will show if it is effective in reducing stress while at work or by the end of the work day when people seem to be most stressed. If this could help in the reduction of workplace stress, then it could change the way people work when under stress. The mind might be freer to actively concentrate on the task at work and not on the everyday stressors while in the workplace.
The methodology chosen in this study will be based on stress. The research analysis will be conducted with volunteers who want to participate in this study. The volunteers will need to be used because the results will focus on the outcome and not issues regarding participant agreements. The volunteers will be more open to the study because they offered to participate in the study and were not hand picked out of a group of people. The people who offer to be involved in the research are more likely already experiencing stress and want to find an effective measure to reduce it. The participants are people who may be wanting to find out the same thing the study is looking for. Results to alleviate stress in work and out of work would help bring positivity and motivation to the performance of workers. The volunteers will consist of 15 people who are wanting to take part in the study. There will be two groups of 15 participants and the measured design will be conducted three times. The volunteers will be handed an outline of what the study will be about. The participants will have knowledge of the research before beginning the experiment. Those who stay and choose to continue with the process will be asked to sign a consent form to participate in the process of stress in the workplace. The study will be conducted in a workplace environment to test the stress level before and after the experiment.
The ethical considerations that are needed to be considered when conducting this type of experiment are crucial. It is important to make sure there is no discrimination or stereotyping when working with volunteers in the study. The research will need to be demonstrated in an ethical manner and should not reflect towards an individual’s race, ethnic background, gender, religious preferences. The study should be non-judgmental, and it should not make anyone feel uncomfortable. The experiment should be defined and clarified to the participants before it is started. This is to ensure everyone involved understands what the study is about, what is expected, and why they are participating in it. There will be no hidden motives, fees, or studies that are kept from the volunteers. The participants will need to be aware that they can leave if they decide to not do the research. The people who offer to complete the study should be treated fairly and not violated of rights. It is important to not be biased in this type of study. An open mind will be needed for the experiment to be useful and effective.
The costs for this experiment will be beneficial to the basis of the study. The expenses will include lavender essential oil burners, pens, participation consent forms, survey questionnaire forms, and a work environment. The costs will not be expensive to conduct the study, and the supplies needed are minimal. The results of the study could be priceless in regards to lavender and its outcome. If this had a positive and thorough outcome it could enhance how work environments are set up. The study could be conducted for less than $500 dollars. The study could be less if donations were used instead of funding. This would reduce the financial cost of the company and alleviate the cost of supplies and materials needed to conduct the research.
The resource implications would not be a problem because the items needed for this study is small. These resources would not be hard to receive since it is items that are easily accessible. The items can even be donated for the study to take place if the resources were complicated and not feasible. The supply chains that continue the flow of the resources can maintain a useful connection in regards to this type of study. It could bring more sales for the suppliers of lavender, and enhance business for suppliers.
The risk assessments involving this study are present. One risk factor would be a participate having an unknown allergy to the scent of lavender. This could cause risk to the participant, and offer risk to consumers. The lavender could have an impact on health issues that were unknown before the study. People who have a reaction to the scent of Lavender will not be able to be involved in this type of stress relieving source. If the study is accurate then this could hinder those who are unable to take part in the therapy. The study concludes to be positive then it could still hinder workplaces experiencing this type of therapy because of allergies. The risk may be low to minimal in most workplaces but allergic reactions could still be present.
On the first day, the volunteers will come into the workplace and be asked to fill out a questionnaire survey. The survey will be directed towards stress and the levels of stress that the participants are experiencing when they enter the workplace. As the day continues the survey questionnaire will be given again after approximately five hours after the start of the workday. The two groups will have to be conducted in the same manner. The first group will have the option to explain the levels of stress when they arrive in the workplace, and then will have the option to explain their level of stress nearing the end of that day. Once the levels of stress had been evaluated the first day, then the second day will be similar with the assistance of lavender.
The second day the groups were given the survey and stress levels would be expressed. After the surveys were filled out and turned in the experiment would begin. Lavender essential oil burners would be handed out to each participant. Each person would be instructed to take the lavender fragrance to their desk or workstation. Throughout the day, the volunteers would be breathing and smelling the scent to see if it had any change in their levels of stress they were experiencing. At the end of the day, the participants would be handed the survey asking about their stress level. The volunteers would fill out the survey based on how they were feeling at that moment, and not based on the whole day.
The findings with each group would be viewed and comparison or retraction would be considered in the results. If stress on the first day was higher at the end of the workday than in the beginning of the day; then work was a stressor. If the second day, the stress level had decreased by the end of the day; then lavender is a stress diffuser. This would determine if this experiment would be important in stress in the workplace. In order to decrease stress in the workplace there needs to a plan or action to take to make this occur. If the lavender works as a way to decrease stress at work, then it may have an impact on other workplaces as well.
The scores for the groups were interesting with and without the use of lavender. The first day the volunteers were given the information regarding the study and signed a participation consent form. The individuals’ filled out the stress survey that morning. Their scores were reported medium to high levels of stress. The levels of stress ranged around the 60 percentile range. Two volunteers had lower stress level in the 42%. The scores were surprisingly high, with it being early in the day. The survey later in the day showed the stress levels had increased between 5-15 percent and was geared towards the high level of stress scale. They had expressed greater stress throughout the work day. The two participants who showed lower stress in the morning had shown the same amount of increase in stress as the other volunteers.
The second day the groups had taken the stress survey and scored the same as they had the morning before. The stress level for the group was focused on the medium to high range. The participants had received their lavender essential oil burners and was instructed on what to do with them. Later on in the workday, the volunteers were given the stress survey. The scores were reviewed for that day and then was included in the day before results. Once the scores have analyzed the correlation of the study was significant. The study proved that stress levels stayed the same at the beginning of the workdays.
The study shows results that the stress levels had decreased with the lavender essential oil burner by 20 percent from the morning survey. Without the lavender essential oil burner, the second stress survey of the day showed a high increase in stress. This information was important and showed a critical increase in the level of stress in a five-hour period. This is a short time for the amount of increase that occurred. The lavender help reduces the morning levels of stress down in several people by 20 percent. The volunteers felt “calmer and more peaceful with the lavender present” . When the lavender was not present some people felt agitated and more stressed.
The participants enjoyed the lavender and that it helped them feel more relaxed. They were not worried or stressed as much as they had been before the lavender. The participants would use it again because they liked the results that the lavender gave them No one showed any allergic reaction to the lavender essential oil burners. The risk was not present in this study. The cost was not an issue in this study and the supply chain of resources was available. The study had no issues or concerns after the experiment was over. There were no concerns in regards to supplies and materials for this study. The cost was low enough to not be of any concern to the company. The lavender oil reduced stressed, and the study was well worth the time of everyone involved.
The study validates the use of lavender can help calm people in the workplace. The risk factors would need to be considered, bur would be effective if applicable for workplace settings. This finding would be good for businesses who deal with stress and stressful people. The calming effect can make everyone feel better who is in that atmosphere. When people are calm and relaxed, they are more pleasant to be around. Lavender has proven in other studies that are used much other healing and calming tones. It may be a herb to keep on hand for the many different ailments it reduces. People may want to use a natural herb to reduce their pains than mediation.
Lavender could be a great way to change the business atmosphere. This could make people feel better when they are waiting at a Dr. office, or at another waiting area. The reduction of stress is a great way to achieve more things in life and at work. You’re not worrying about everything else and can stay focused on the task you’re doing. Lavender is used for many things and this would be another on the list of natural remedies.
Reference
Passon, D., 2016. Lavender Oil. Body Ecology, pp. 1-3.
Steven D. Ehrlich, 2015. Lavender. University of Maryland Medical Center, pp. 1-6.
