You know the feeling. Your shoulders are tense & it’s been an intense day at work. You have so many emails flooding your inbox & you feel yourself feeling overwhelmed. Instead of continuing to freak out internally, take some time to de-stress yourself. I can be so easy to get stuck on negative feelings, but remember:
Your thoughts affect your emotions. So why not shift your thoughts by taking some steps to de-stress at work? Keep reading to learn different techniques to feel more at ease while having a stressful day at work.
De-Stress Tip #1: Get up, walk around, get outside & breathe
Taking deep breaths is one of the fastest ways to calm down & gain some clarity. Bonus points if you are able to get outside & do a quick walk. Sometimes we just need to get away from our desks to put things into perspective. I have done this multiple times at my office & it has worked wonders!
De-Stress Tip #2: Decorate your desk with things that bring your joy
What brings you joy? For me, it’s flowers so I love having a succulent on my desk. I also recommend having a quote printed out & framed at your desk. Whenever you find yourself feeling stressed, you can take a look at the quote & feel some motivation. If you don’t want to have a framed quote, you can also change your desktop background. One of my favorite backgrounds that I’ve had said #girlboss. Whenever I was feeling stressed, I would look at my desktop & think to myself, “I am a girl boss & I can handle this!”
De-Stress Tip #3: Listen to relaxing or brain focus music
I mentioned this in my blog post, Product Hacks: Get More Things Done During Your Day, but brain focus music is not just great for being productive. It is also a great way to relax at work. Brain focus music is very similar to relaxing music. There aren’t any words & there are rhythmic beats in the background. It is a great way to drown out the noise around you & the stressful thoughts. It will also help you become more productive which will help you relax as well!
De-Stress Tip #4: Get to work early
If you have a stressful day ahead, try to get to work early. Getting a head start on your work will help you feel less stressed through out the day & it will look impressive to your boss!
De-Stress Tip #5: Chat with some co-workers who make you feel good
Now I recommend staying as far away from the “Negative Nancy’s” at work & chat with some co-workers who can make you laugh & feel good. Laughter is a great way to de-stress & sometimes we need those little breaks at the office.
De-Stress Tip #6: Try a de-stress aromatherapy roller ball
Once you feel yourself having those negative, stressful thoughts, use your aromatherapy roller ball to help center yourself & feel calm. It is a great way to de-stress the mind.
De-Stress Tip #7: Make yourself a cup of herbal tea
In this scenario, I would recommend staying away from the coffee or caffeinated tea. Drinking caffeinated beverages could just make your anxiety worse. Instead, make yourself a cup of herbal tea. It is like a hug in a mug & you’ll feel yourself instantly feeling better. Here is one of my favorite herbal teas!
De-Stress Tip #8: Message someone for encouragement
If you have a couple of seconds & you can have your phone out during work, spend some time sending a text to a friend. There have been many times where I texted one of my best friends saying I need some motivation & I feel overwhelmed. They always know what to say to make me feel better. Sometimes you just need some words of encouragement!
De-Stress Tip #9: Watch a couple of seconds of a funny video
As I mentioned in one of the previous tips, laughter is a great way to de-stress. However, only use this tip if you have self-discipline & you are able to watch only one or two videos. If you watch too many videos, you will find yourself feeling even more stressed because you have even more work to do!
De-Stress Tip #10: Change your perspective
Take a couple of minutes to think about how this is not the end of the world. You will be able to finish your work & it will all be okay. There is no need to stress. Take a deep breath & tell yourself that you can do this.
What are your favorite ways to de-stress at work? Leave a comment below!