5 QUICK WAYS TO DE-STRESS WHEN YOU'RE HAVING A TOUGH DAY AT THE OFFICE

April is Stress Awareness Month. If your day is busier and more stressful than usual, know there are easy ways to get back on track. Start with being more mindful of how you treat your body and make it a priority to take breaks. Here, we share ways to reset and de-stress.

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1. TAKE A WALK
If possible, head outdoors for a quick walk. There’s no need to put on your trainers and track your steps; simply getting some fresh air will work wonders to refresh your mind. A short walk inside the office will also help you take your mind off work, even if it’s just for a few minutes while you enjoy a coffee and catch-up with a colleague.

You could even perform easy exercises right at your desk, like these:

@physiotherapyonwheels Happy new year everyone 🎉 Let’s start off the year strong with some easy office exercises you can do from the comfort of you desk 👩🏻‍💻👨🏻‍💻 Do you have an office job and find yourself at your desk for a prolonged period of time ? Try out these exercises to help avoid developing stiffness or injuries from prolonged sitting 🪑 1. Seated glute stretch 2. Lev scap and upper trap stretch 3. Seated leg extension 4. Seated toe tap 5. Prayer stretch 6. Wrist flexion and extension 7. Wrist rolls 8. Trunk flexion and extension Let us know if you started incorporating these into your work days 💻 #stiffness #sore #deskjob #exercise #physio #rehab #easyexercise #physiotherapyonwheels ♬ Ride It - Regard

2. PUT ON YOUR HEADPHONES
Whether you actually listen to something or only use them as a way to block out noises and unwanted chats, wearing headphones can give you a few minutes of escape from a busy office. You can choose to combine this with tip 1 above or stay sitting at your desk while you enjoy a moment of downtime.

Here are some tunes to help you feel pumped:

@sagecounselingwellness #musicpsychology #calmingmusicforyou #productivityhack ♬ Yoga, Spa, Healing Piano Songs(1419901) - Lumiere Music

3. TAKE A DEEP BREATH
Breathe in… hold… breathe out. It’s the simple solution to so many problems, but when you’re feeling anxious, stressed or pressured to perform, it’s easy to forget to just breathe. Taking a moment to breathe deeply with intention will help recentre your thoughts and settle your body into a healthier, calmer flow before you get back to your to-do list.

This simple metaphor easily explains why breathing helps so much:

@doctor.aliaaa There is no lion chasing you ! #anxiety #breathingexercises #doctor #fyp #explore #viral #mentalhealth ♬ original sound - Doctor Aliaa

4. SNACK ON THAT
We’re all aware that we need to eat before hanger is activated, but when you’re having a busy day at the office, it’s easy to forget to eat. Take the time to eat a proper meal at lunchtime and make sure to pack healthy snacks to sustain you throughout the day, particularly before the mid-afternoon slump hits. Eating a proper meal forces you to stop what you’re doing and focus only on nourishing your body.

If time is limited, pack a quick and easy lunch so there’s no excuse to skip a meal. To save space, invest in a lunchbox that has compartments for different foods and has its own cutlery, and always have a water bottle nearby.

This jar salad has us looking forward to lunch:

@queenofplugss The options are endless 😍 #recipe #recipeidea #healthyeating #worklunch #easy #easylunch #healthyeatingtips #health #eating #foodie #salad #homemade #homecook #tiktoksa #healthyfood #newyear #newyeararesolution #yummy #southafrica #SAMA28 #viral #food #recipes #recipesoftiktok #durban #jhb #capetown #miaoreilly #foodtok ♬ Vlog ・ Stylish city pop(1275391) - orino

5. LAUGH OUT LOUD
When business is the order of the day, there’s often no time for fun, games and giggles. But adding humour is an important part of bringing balance to a busy, stressful day. The physical and mental benefits of laughing are endless, so laugh out loud – even when there’s no one around!

Need more convincing? This will do it:

@drjoe_md Health benefits of laughter. #laughter #hollistic #healthyliving #doctor #doctorsoftiktok ♬ Happy and fun corporate music for advertising. - TimTaj

Image: Pexels