It’s Stress Awareness Month, which means it’s time to take a good, hard look at how you manage your daily stress. There’s no doubt that stress is a part of our everyday lives, but it’s how we deal with that stress that affects our health and happiness. So start the de-stressing process now with a few of these tips and tricks.
Take Breaks
Everyone needs a break every once in a while, and while working from home might leave you under the impression you can no longer take a break away from your desk, that’s simply not the case. In fact, you should take a short break approximately every 30 minutes. This not only helps your wrists, eyes and neck relax from a day of working at the computer, but it also gives your brain a break before it dives back into a project.
And if you’re not already stepping away from your desk for lunch, start doing it! You are entitled to a lunch break, and it’s your first real opportunity to decompress after the first half of the day. These breaks will only make you more productive later in the day.
Plan a Vacation
While not all budgets will allow for this, even a quick staycation can make a difference. The goal is to have something to look forward to. Burnout is a genuine thing, and right now, it’s prevalent. So, if you haven’t utilized your vacation days while working from home, it’s time to start cashing in.
Experiment with Meditation
Meditation is a great practice for your mental health, and it also does wonders for stress relief. It declutters the mind so you can get the stress-free rest you’re in such desperate need of. If you don’t already meditate, start experimenting with it to see if it’s for you. There are plenty of methods and practices out there for you to try out. Once you find the one that works for you, you’ll never go back!
Keep a Journal
Journaling, much like meditation, is a way to organize your thoughts and track your progress regarding stress relief. Journaling allows you to schedule time (daily or weekly) to check in with yourself. It might not seem like it, but scheduling this time is a mental health exercise that ensures you’re prioritizing your well-being.
Test Common Stress Relief Hobbies Until Something Fits
Lastly, there are so many stress relief hobbies out there, such as artsy activities (i.e., adult coloring books), mind-quieting brain teasers (i.e., Sudoku), and even athletic activities (i.e., sports). Every personality will have a different preference, so play around with various methods and pick the one that works best for you.
Stress is common, but that’s not to say that you can ignore it. Mental health is just as important as physical health, so if your stress has gone unchecked for too long, try implementing some of these methods into your daily routine to get everything back on track.