Feeling frazzled on a Friday? Workplace stress is a real thing—your inbox being flooded with emails, the constant deadlines, pop-up projects, meetings, and even your commute to-and-from the office all add to weight on your shoulders. It’s easy to see why your workplace might just be the perfect stress-creating environment.
In order to stay sane, and to enjoy the work you’re doing, you need to be able to flick the stress on/off switch to “off.” Here are four ways to eliminate stress at your workplace, with insights from Minda Zetlin, author of 6 Surefire Ways to Eliminate Stress During the Workday.
1. Doodle!
Everyone doodles, and it might be (subconsciously) for good reason.
“Doodling engages the right side of your brain, liberating your creativity and allowing for greater concentration,” says Minda.
Doodling allows your brain to express itself in ways that wouldn’t otherwise happen if you were to stick with staring at a screen all day. This liberated, more creative thinking helps relax you and for the stress to slowly melt away. Next time someone spots you doodling at your desk, just tell him or her it helps you concentrate more and think sharper.
2. Have a Glass of Water
A tall glass of water might help cure what ails you. If you’re feeling stressed, frustrated, or impatient, head to the kitchen or water cooler and fill up your cup—don’t have a sip from the glass that’s already sitting at your desk, as it’s vital that you briefly escape the area where you’re feeling stress. The small action of getting up for a water break gives you a moment’s relief from what’s stressing you out, and the sip of water will cool you down.
Doodling allows your brain to express itself in ways that wouldn’t otherwise happen if you were to stick with staring at a screen all day.
3. Take a Deep Breath
Chances are you’ve heard this before as a way to eliminate nerves (“just take a few deep breaths before your presentation to help with nerves!”), but taking slow, deep breaths will also help reduce your stress levels. When you’re feeling agitated, just stop what you’re doing, close your eyes, and breathe in-and-out—slowly—until you start to feel calm. Repeat this as often as needed when you feel your stress levels rising.
4. Begin Your Day With Positive Thoughts
“Learning to focus on the positive puts you in the mindset of finding solutions rather than dwelling on problems,” says Minda.
As soon as you wake up in the morning, or as soon as you get to the office (whatever you prefer), write down three things you’re grateful for, or three things that are going well in your life and that you’re happy about. The simple act of writing these three things down will put you in a positive state of mind, and put you in a good mood that will last the whole day.