by Brita Long
Do you feel stressed out during the workday? If so, you’re not alone. A lot of people find it difficult to relax at work.
This can lead to many negative consequences, such as decreased productivity, poor decision-making, poor work-life balance, and even health problems. This blog post will discuss different ways to relax at work and improve your productivity!
Why is It Important to Find Ways to Relax at Work?
There are many reasons why people need to relax at work. Here are just a few benefits:
- Improve productivity: When you’re relaxed, you’re more likely to focus on the task at hand and less likely to get distracted.
- Make better decisions: Feeling relaxed helps you stay in the present rather than unnecessarily dwelling on the past. In stressful situations, our brains tend to overanalyze things, leading to inefficient decision-making processes and possibly even poor decisions.
- Improve your health: Stress has been linked with various health problems such as heart disease and obesity. Learning how to relax at work can mitigate stress and improve your overall health.
While some stress is an inevitable part of life, especially at work, it’s still important to take time each day to relax. This is especially true for leaders. You can’t effectively lead others if you don’t take care of yourself first.
10 Easy Ideas to Relax at Work
Relaxing at work doesn’t have to be difficult or time-consuming. Sometimes you only have a few extra minutes to spare—how can you make the most of them?
Here are some simple strategies to relax at work. You can also try these techniques before or after work.
Prepare the Day Before
Before you leave the office for the day, take a few minutes to assess the next day. What are your top priorities? When are your meetings? Write a to-do list based on your schedule and projects. This will help you release work stress from your brain because you know it’s all written down and planned out.
At home, you can take additional steps to prepare for the next day. This can include packing your lunch, picking out your outfit, and setting aside anything else you need to take with you to work. Any task you complete the night before is one less thing to worry about in the morning, reducing your stress at the very beginning of the day.
Create a Morning Routine
You can have a morning routine at home as well as one for the office.
When you first wake up, don’t immediately check your phone, for anything. Social media can be a time-consuming distraction, and then you end up rushing to avoid being late. Work emails can immediately rev up your stress levels when you’re barely awake. None of this will help you start your morning well.
I actually keep my phone in my home office overnight, so I’m not tempted to use it first thing in the morning.
Your morning routine can include a brief meditation, a quick workout, a healthy breakfast, or anything else that helps you begin the day.
Create a morning routine for work too. You can block off time to tackle your biggest task, dedicate 15 minutes to reviewing your day, or even take time to socialize with your co-workers.
By creating routines, you have fewer decisions to make each day. This allows you to focus your decision-making abilities on the important things.
Take a Break
It’s essential to take breaks throughout the day, even if you only have a few minutes. This will help you refresh and recharge so that you can continue to work effectively.
Get Up and Move Around
If you find yourself feeling stagnant, get up and move around! Take a quick walk or do some stretches. This will get your blood flowing and improve your mood.
Go Outside
Try to take your breaks outside, whether it’s just a quick walk or a leisurely lunch. Fresh air and sunshine can wake you up and center you, so you can return to work more focused and relaxed.
Eat Healthy Foods
Eating a balanced lunch and small, healthy snacks throughout the day can help you maintain your energy and mental focus. Keep snacks like nuts and fruit at your desk to make it easy to choose healthy foods.
Drink Enough Water
Dehydration can lead to too much fatigue and irritability, so make sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day. Do you find it hard to drink plain water? Try infusing your water with fruit or herbs, or drink seltzer water.
Take Some Deep Breaths
Take a few deep breaths and re-align yourself when you start feeling stressed. Deep breathing will help you regain control of the situation and shift your mind from the work stress you’re currently experiencing.
Meditate
Meditating can be a reliable way to feel relaxed. It’s also a great way to clear your mind so you can focus on what matters. Even a short meditation can help you relax at work. If you’re new to meditating, listen to a guided meditation.
Declutter Your Workspace
An untidy desk can stress you out and negatively impact your performance at work. By decluttering your desk, you release stress while working more efficiently. Try creating a specific system for organizing your workspace and stick to it.
It’s Good to Feel Relaxed at Work
There are a lot of benefits to being relaxed at work. As we mentioned earlier, relaxation can increase productivity and improve your decision-making skills. Additionally, it can help improve your health by reducing stress levels. Finally, relaxation can also help you find balance during your day.
These ten ways to relax at work are just a starting point! Experiment with different techniques to find out what works best for you.
by Anna Morelock