It's a fast-paced world we live in, and as such, it is really important that you look after both your physical and mental health. There is a lot of workplace pressure (we don't like to call it stress) that we are exposed to on a daily basis. It is quite amazing to know the physiological changes you undergo the minute you sit in front of your PC: your breathing rate increases by up to 30%, your blinking rate nearly halves, and you tend to tighten the muscles in your arms and shoulders without even thinking about it.
Here are a few tips to help you counteract workplace pressure:
- Sweat. A lot. A super-high intensity 30 minute workout lowers stress levels more than a gentle stroll on the treadmill.
- Turn off the email - not for the whole day (that would be crazy!), but for long enough that you can focus on the task at hand, without the distraction of emails bombarding your thought process
- 55 on, 5 off. Spend a solid 55 minutes ploughing through your in-tray, and then take a five minute break. The short break revitalises and allows you to take a deep breath shake off any accumulating tension. The increases in productivity will more than make up for the time you spend on a break.
- This might be tough for some - Smile More. The old saying "laughter is the best medicine" is a tried and true method of stress relief.
- Visual soul food: Download a soothing screen saver (try this site). What we watch impacts our brain and can alter your mood - try a soothing waterfall.
Can you recognise when you need to take a step back? We would love to hear what steps you take to minimise your workplace tension.