The grind of a 9 to 5 can impact us mentally, physically and emotionally. Commuting to and from work plus the added time of being immersed in what seems like a never ending spiral of to-do’s can be extremely stressful. When you are confined to your
cubicle and your mind is racing, it may seem impossible to calm down. Need a few ways to refresh your day and center yourself? Here are 7 ways to decompress at work:
1. Breathe, baby breathe!
Take a moment for you to find your center. A quick tip to ease anxiety is to inhale and
exhale slowly, holding your breath after each for a few seconds. Inhale. Hold. Exhale.
Hold. This technique will help you reconnect with yourself.
2. Stretch it Out
Sitting for a long period of time is nobody’s friend. Make sure that you stand at least
once every hour to stretch out your limbs. If there is a certain part of your body that is
feeling overworked, focus on stretching this area.
3. Go for a short walk
Even if you don’t drink coffee or tea, take a “coffee break” moment and go for a walk.
Whether you are in an office building or freelancing at home, take a break from the
environment and re-focus.
4. Essential Oils are Your Friend
Peppermint oil does wonders for headaches. Each essential oil that exists have
particular properties that impact the body differently. Need to feel calm? Lavender.
Energized? Lemon. Whether it is in a bottle, rollerball or diffuser, this small touch will
aid the body and help you find your calm.
5. Lists
“To-do’s” are synonymous with work, however instead of being suffocated by one long
list, divide it into a “priority based” sequence. Start from the category of “high priority”
a.k.a things that are due immediately or large projects and work your way down to
“general tasks” or “lower priority”. This will help all of the tasks floating around in your
head materialize as you put them down on paper. As simple as a tip as this is, it will do
wonders for the heart palpitations and anxious thoughts that surround how much you
have to do.
6. Create a space you love
Being in a cubicle amongst so many people can make you feel like a cog in a larger
system or leave you feeling uninspired by your surroundings. Add a little flair to your
workspace to brighten the area and give you an additional boost of happiness
throughout the day. If you are allowed plants in your workspace, add some greenery as
this well help with oxygen, mood and general aesthetic!
7. Happy Playlist
Create a go-to playlist that has all of the songs that you know will put a smile on your
face. Bad meeting? Playlist. Partnership didn’t pan out? Playlist! It will add a little boost
to your day plus it will bring back the happy nostalgia of some of your favourite tunes.