April is National Stress Awareness month. Work stress tends to creep up on all of us despite how much we may love our jobs. According to the Mental Health Foundation, “people affected by work-related stress lose an average of 24 days of work due to ill health.” Whether it be in the office or working from home it’s important to realize what ways stress manifests itself in your body. Every-body is different. Here are 10 quick tips to destress your body and mind throughout the work day.
1. Eat healthy. You literally are what you eat. When you chose healthy foods over processed ones your mind and body will reflect that. You will think clearer and feel better from getting proper amounts of essential vitamins, minerals and overall nutrients. And please don’t forget to eat. A lot of people get caught up in the daily hustle and bustle and get hyper focused on working. This is all bad but make sure to set reminders in your calendar to eat lunch and snack. Not eating enough can affect your mood and not to mention slow your metabolism.
2. Exercise at your desk. Take a 5-minute break here and there when you’re feeling fatigued. Do some jumping jacks, pushups, maybe even some burpees. Get your blood flowing. This is especially good right before a big meeting. There are even some companies, such as BurnAlong that assist employers. They specialize in instructional videos for mental and physical wellbeing. They even offer nutritional counseling.
3. Focus on your breathing. Take a few minutes away from your work day to meditate and just simply breath. It’s amazing what this simple act can do for our bodies that we so easily take for granted every moment. Apps, such as Calm help guide you through this if you’re unsure where to begin.
4. Step away for a moment. Run a work errand and get a change of scenery for a few minutes. You could even go grab a cup of calming tea from the break room or your kitchen if you’re working from home.
5. Stay hydrated! The general rule is to drink 8 glasses of water per day but an even better marker is to drink half of your body weight in ounces each day. If you’re one of those people who finds this difficult buy yourself a large reusable water bottle to make keeping track that much easier. Not to mention it’s better for the environment anyway ;)
6. Listen to your favorite jams! Put in your ear buds or air pods and listen to your favorite music while you work!
7. Keep your space organized! Your outside space reflects your inside space. Declutter your mind and your desk.
8. Have a quick stretch. Sitting all day can take a toll on your body. Muscle soreness and stiffness can restrict blood flow. Get up a stretch every hour or so. Set an alarm to remind yourself.
9. Prioritize your tasks accordingly. Focus on the harder tasks first thing in the morning when your fresh and more alert. This can make the rest of the day more manageable and will give more flexibility to handle unexpected concerns that may arise later in the day.
10. Positive beliefs. Say affirmations at the beginning of your work day. Just pick one positive thing about yourself that you believe to be true. It can be something like, “I am great at (insert something in your work-related field here) and have the skills necessary to be an asset to my team.” You can make this one whatever you like but keep it positive and keep it something unique to you. The way that we speak to ourselves is important. Our subconscious mind believes what we tell it.
In a nut shell, we all have work stress and there’s no getting around it. What truly matters is how we learn to cope with and manage it. Learning new ways to help deal with work stress with keep you productive as your overall wellbeing isn’t being compromised. Healthy mind. Healthy body. Healthy work life!
