Anyone who’s ever experienced stress has probably been given the same advice: “You need to learn how to relax”. As simple as this seems, it’s often easier said than done.
Most of us have experienced work-related stress at some point. In fact, a 2020 study found that just 1% of employed adults in the UK said they have never experienced stress at work.
In honour of International Stress Awareness Week, we’re sharing our top tips for relaxation. Everyone’s different, so it’s important to find whatever works for you.
Hobbies
Doing something you enjoy in your downtime is a great way to switch off and unwind. At Wellbeing in Your Office, we love getting creative. From sewing to painting, art can be a much needed release. You can read more about our Founder Gosia’s Experience With Art, or you can learn more about our Art Therapy Workshops if you’d like to bring some creative release to your workplace.
Mindfulness
For many people, mindfulness is the ultimate relaxation. Mindfulness is a type of meditation which aims to bring awareness to how you are feeling, both physically and mentally. Mindfulness has many applications. Firstly, by being aware of how you are feeling, you will be better equipped to recognise when your mind and body needs to relax. Secondly, the guided meditations can bring you a sense of calm, as you focus on your breath, body, sounds, feelings or thoughts.
Mindfulness can be very effective when applied in the work place, so you can help your team to become more mindful by learning more about our Mindfulness Meditation Workshops.
Movement
Movement is great a great way to relax because it is thought that exercise triggers the release of mood-boosting and anxiety-reducing hormones like serotonin and dopamine. It’s best to set realistic goals, and chose something you enjoy when beginning a new exercise routine.
For some people, the thought of getting a sweat on can feel quite overwhelming when you’re under pressure. This is why we love yoga. Like mindfulness, yoga focuses on the breath and body, as you follow a sequence of movements. When you build yoga into your daily routine, you may start to see a reduction in stress levels throughout the day.
If you’d like to get your team moving, find out more about our Yoga Services.
Switch off
It’s really important to take regular breaks from work and other stresses in your life. Many of us are still working from home, which means that the boundaries between work and personal life can become blurred.
Our top tips for switching off are:
- Avoid working on your bed, as you may begin to associate your relaxing space with work stress.
- Try to stick to defined working hours like you would in an office.
- If possible, take some time away from screens and turn off notifications.
- Take breaks throughout the day, including a time to sit down and enjoy lunch.
If you’re a Manager, encourage your team to implement these measures to ensure that they are able relax and reduce their stress levels.
Connect
Humans are social animals, and even the most introverted among us need human connection. Take time to meet with friends, spend time with family, and meet new people. Interacting with others can be a great distraction, and a way to reduce your stress levels.
“As a Manager, how can I help my team to relax?”
Given work is such a major source of stress, relaxation can and should start in the workplace. Aside from ensuring that your team maintain a healthy work-life balance, it is a good idea to look into implementing wellbeing-focused activities. At Wellbeing in Your Office, we offer a range of services tailored to improving the wellbeing of employees. You can find out more about our wellbeing services, or you can contact us for more information – we’d love to hear from you.