POPPING the bubbles on plastic bubble-wrap is either fun or extremely irritating, depending on your point of view. But St Neots manufacturer Sealed Air has come up with a novel use for the product – as a stress-buster. To help harassed managing directors

POPPING the bubbles on plastic bubble-wrap is either fun or extremely irritating, depending on your point of view.

But St Neots manufacturer Sealed Air has come up with a novel use for the product - as a stress-buster.

To help harassed managing directors cope with increased pressure at work, Sealed Air has developed an 'Anti-Stress Box' aimed at helping employers up and down the UK.

The box contains individual sheets of Sealed Air's specially formulated AirCap(r) Bubble Wrap, which includes a unique double bubble for a super-satisfying pop, the company said. The box has been designed so that it can be kept on a desk at work, close to hand for instant stress relief.

Popping bubbles to help relieve stress is not new. Sealed Air has been monitoring the positive affects across its 50 offices worldwide since the invention of Bubble Wrap by Sealed Air back in 1960.

Chartered psychologist Dr David Lewis, one of the UK's leading stress specialists and author of the best-selling book One Minute Stress Management said: "There is something fundamentally enjoyable about popping Bubble Wrap - most of us have l done it and I don't know anyone who doesn't get a buzz out of doing it.

"As for its stress-busting properties, these are likely to be due to three main factors. First, by acting as a distracter, it helps take one's mind off a stressful problem. Second, popping the bubbles enables us to vent frustrations and so become more relaxed. Last, but by no means least, popping bubbles encourages feelings of carefree fun and playfulness, all of which makes it a perfect antidote to stress and anxiety.

"Perhaps UK employers across the UK should take note - it is such a simple solution to a serious workplace issue."

Stuart Roberts, European director of marketing at Sealed Air, continued: "All our employees are given an Anti-Stress Box along with instructions on how many bubbles to pop to help ease stress - depending on the problem.

"The process enables our employees to diffuse a potentially stressful situation by taking a few moments out. Not only that, but the physical popping process can help to induce laughter which relaxes the body and in turn provides relief."

Sealed Air's guide to popping suggests the following formula:

Computer crash - 25 bubbles

Looming deadline - 50 bubbles

Losing an important document - 60 bubbles

Confrontation with a colleague - 100 bubbles

INFORMATION: Sealed Air is at www.sealedair-emea.com