How To Reduce Stress

Be organised

Feeling overwhelmed is a massive contributor to stress. Prioritise and organise your workload by making a to-do list, setting clear objectives, setting deadlines, focussing on only a couple of jobs at a time. Simple yet effective! Keeping a calendar handy can also help to plan your time wisely by visually planning out the amount of time you have each week to achieve your goals. Even plan your breaks - actually seeing them laid out ahead of you can make a bigger difference than you think!

Get enough sleep

It’s no secret that a lack of sleep negatively affects your mood and outlook. Aim for six to eight hours a night, stick to a regular schedule and turn off screens at least one hour before you want to go to bed. We’ve got bad news: sleeping in on the weekend can upset this schedule and in turn, undo the progress. But the good news: if you’re working from home, studies have shown that no more than 15-to-20-minute naps can actually result in better productivity if you need an energy boost.

Relieve tension

We all know that that sitting down all day can result in a tight, sore body (hello, back pain). In the office, consider a standing desk or one that’s designed to help you maintain good posture along with an ergonomically designed chair. You could even place a rolled-up towel at the base of your spine while sitting to encourage you to sit straighter and provide you with some stability. At home, engage in stretches to strengthen your back and shoulder muscles or even consider taking up yoga which is also widely viewed as an efficient way to destress.

Limit unnecessary screen time

It’s hard to take the advice of limiting screen time when that’s the main component of your job. However, there are some changes you can make. Pick up a book instead of your smart phone at lunch or take a stroll when dialling into phone meetings to get in your extra steps for the day. Research has linked sitting for long periods of time to chronic health problems, and your eyes should not be forgotten. After every 20 minutes of computer use, look at something six to eight metres away for around 20 seconds to allow your eyes to recover.

Workplace wellness

It’s where you spend most of your time, so why wouldn’t you decorate it as much as your home? Make your space feel as comfortable as you can and consider bringing in some plants, essential oils, photos, your favourite stationery… sometimes it’s the simple things that bring you the most pleasure. These personalised additions can have a soothing effect and in turn, can shift your mood and awaken your sese through scent and sight.