Even if you love what you do and sometimes it doesn’t even feel like working, some amount of stress is inevitable. That’s why one of the secrets of effective time management is finding different ways to incorporate a variety of stress-reduction techniques into your workday. If you are dealing with stress at work, a lunch break can be exactly what you need to recharge your batteries and to relax a little. It will provide you the opportunity to take a mental break between tasks that will help you gain your focus and snap out of a bad mood. Here are 7 relaxing ways to de-stress during your lunch hour that you should consider:
What better way to spend your lunch hour than by reading a few pages of your favorite book? There are even studies which show that you will be able to decrease your stress levels if you read for at least 6 minutes. So, keep in mind that when life gets stressful, it can be quite beneficial to get lost in a story for a little while.
If you want to reduce your stress levels during your lunch hour, then just do some breathing exercises. Just sit comfortably, put your hand on your stomach, take a deep breath, hold your breath for 3 seconds and then simply exhale. Do this for 2 or 3 minutes and you will feel more relaxed, more energised and your mood will improve significantly.
If you have been stuck in your office all morning, then just take a few minutes to go outside during your lunch break. It will clear your mind and it will do wonders for your perspective. Just go and eat lunch on a bench in the park or take a quick walk around the block. You will feel more relaxed and it will also help you regain a positive mood.
A lot of studies have shown that clutter can make you feel even more stressed since it can make you feel overwhelmed or out of control. If your work area looks like a battlefield, your stress levels can rise even higher. Just take a few minutes of your lunch break and de-clutter your desk and you will get a sense that there is some order in all that chaos.
If you want to forget about all those things that are stressing you out when you are at work, just have lunch with a friend. You will forget all about those problems from work and you won’t feel like your life belongs to corporation X.
There are a lot of free videos online, especially on YouTube, that can teach you all about progressive muscle relaxation. This is actually a process of tightening your muscles and then relaxing them and it’s an excellent way to relax your body when you are feeling stressed. It will also clear your mind of everything going on and it will improve your mood.
Try to avoid multitasking while you eat. Just clear your mind and enjoy every bite. Chew it carefully, enjoy the textures and the flavours of your food and allow yourself to completely relax.
It’s not that hard to incorporate these stress-reduction techniques into your workday. Just give them a try and see how good you will feel afterwards. Do you know any other relaxing ways to de-stress during your lunch hour? Please tell us about them in the comments section!
Sources:
pgeveryday.com
dummies.com
wisebread.com
iuhealth.org