Destressing At Work

I’m not sure why we all seem to have accepted that it’s okay to feel stressed while we work. Or that somehow stress and work go hand in hand and that’s just the way it is.

Sure, there are times of the workday that can be stressful—preparing for a big presentation, having a conversation with your boss about conflict within the team, asking for a raise, or any number of other circumstances. 

That said, I’m a big believer that a lot of the stress we experience during the workday comes from the physical reality of sitting in front of our computer for hours on end. Beyond a mental state, stress is very much a physical state. I could go on and on about our nervous system and our joints, but the basic gist of it all is this: move. A little movement can help de-stress you almost instantly.

You don’t have to do them for long (I like to think of it as a movement snack), and you’ll be amazed how much a change to your physical state can change your mental state (not to mention make your body feel happier & more mobile). These fun ways to de-stress yourself at work can be done in the office, at home, or basically anywhere.

Here are some of my favorite—and quite well known—ways of destressing during or after work, or maybe even beginning your work day:

• 5 minute walk

• 10 Squats

• 10 Jumping jacks

• Spinal twists in your chair (2x each side)

• Cat/cows

• Side Bends

• Neck stretches

• Seated Figure Four stretches

• Standing Quad stretch

Does it seem too simple? Like there must be a secret to how to de-stress and enjoy life? There really isn’t. When you become able to step away from work (because you recognize that you can take a 3 minute break and everything will be fine), it really will all begin to shift. 

If you need a little more direction, or if you want to get a little more creative, check out my Work Well collection on my On Demand Library (you can rent a video for just $5 or you can sign up to get unlimited access for the month for only $30). Whether you got 3 minutes or 15 minutes, I’ll help you move in a way that leaves you feeling calmer & rejuvenated.

But basically: stop making your instagram feed or food your brain break. And I promise you, everything will start to feel a little better.