Sometimes, despite all our efforts to remain healthy and energetic, we all have days when we are not at our best. Things like being overworked, too much responsibility, private relationship problems, even bad weather… can all lead to make you unproductive at work.
Of course, treating the cause is the way to remove your blockages, but we know that can take time and meanwhile you have to do something about the everyday symptoms. So here are 10 ways to help relieve your stress and find some more get up and go:
1. Talk to Someone.
A problem shared is a problem halved… or something like that! It’s another well known fact that those who “get it off their chest” recover more quickly. Tell somebody how you are feeling. Maybe share with a colleague or friend over lunch. Keeping it to yourself is not a healthy alternative.
2. Listen to music.
Wherever you are, chances are you have access to a radio or an Ipod… pick your fave station or music, chill out and listen to it for a few minutes. A couple of tunes should be all you need to refresh your mind… you just need to give your mind a short holiday for it to feel refreshed!
3. Get moving.
Exercise has been known to help stress and it is has other health benefits. You don’t have to head for the gym and spend hours working up a sweat. Even a 10-20 minute walk during your lunch box, inside or outside, will make a huge difference to how you feel mentally and physically. Try it.
4. Clean Up your Act.
Literally. There is nothing more demoralizing than sitting amid piles of mess and disorganization where you don’t know where anything is and most of it is unnecessary but adds to the bulk which to you represents ALL the work you have still to get through. No wonder your get up and go got up and left! Who wouldn’t! Clean up. Make neat piles of things you MUST have on your desk, file the rest.
5. Granny naps and catnaps.
Grannies and cats have it right… grab a few mins and put your head down. You will awaken refreshed and ready to get going. Sometimes your mind just needs that little break… better to take 15 mins for a nap then waste a couple of hours in a brain fog that prohibits productivity!
6. Food for Thought.
Does your car run well on empty? No… and neither do humans. Don’t skip meals – and small healthy snacks throughout the day makes for great ongoing fuel. Take a snack break. Do something special and enjoy your fave beverage and relax while you enjoy it… it doesn’t take hours to enjoy a latte and fruit muffin, for example, but the benefits will last!
7. Pat Yourself on the Back.
I’m talking rewards here. Reward yourself. When you have worked very hard or achieved something special, or even if you haven’t and you are overworked treat yourself occasionally. You know what they say about all work and no play, right? Enjoy a nice restaurant meal… get a special haircut… see a concert… go away for the weekend… buy a new outfit. Do something just for you.
8. Do Something Different.
Ever practiced an instrument and kept making errors until you played something different and when you returned to the original tune you played it perfectly? Work is like that. If you’re blocked stop what you are doing and do something else for a bit. Choose something that holds more appeal at that moment – when you go back to the other task you’ll be in a better mood to do it.
9. Have a Routine.
When you are all over the place and don’t know what you should be doing, when, it hardly helps get you in the right frame of mind at the right time in your day. Have a routine. This doesn’t mean you can’t or shouldn’t break your routine occasionally, just that if you have none at all, it makes it difficult to get organized and can lead to stress and lack of confidence because you don’t know where you’re at and have no way to gauge how far off you might be.
10. Get away.
Sometimes taking a few minutes out of the day isn’t enough. Sometimes when things have become too bad you have to take stronger measures… take a real break. Go away for a weekend – take a plane trip somewhere or a train ride. If you must, take some urgent work with you – you may find sitting on a beach or a pleasant holiday resort type environment gives you that little something that makes doing the task more palatable. Being in a relaxed environment can work wonders!
Subscribe via RSS
