Experiencing stress at work is normal. You might feel pressure to finish a project before a tight deadline or to deliver a thoughtful presentation to your coworkers. It might be impossible for you to eliminate stress from your workday, but you do have control over how you respond to stressful situations. Use these exercises at work to decrease anxiety and improve your mood.
Physical Exercise
MayoClinic.com recommends working out at least three times per week in order to have a more positive mood and reduce stress. Even though most people already know the benefits of physical exercise, some don't do it. Many make excuses that they don't have the time. You can make time for exercise during your work day. You need to take a couple breaks during the day anyway, including a lunch break, so incorporate exercise into your breaks. Take a walk during your lunch break and stash a set of hand weights under your desk to use when you have short breaks between projects or meetings.
Pace Your Day
Usually you'll find that you can concentrate better and have more energy to accomplish tasks in the morning, so Reader's Digest suggests completing your most difficult tasks before lunch. If there is something you're dreading to do, don't wait until the end of the day to tackle it. You'll feel stressed out throughout the day whenever you think about it and you might feel too exhausted to handle the situation effectively. Before you leave work each day, write on a sticky note the task that is giving you the most stress. Put it on your computer screen and do it the next morning when you get to the office, before you do anything else, including checking emails.
Deep Breaths
If you need an exercise to do when you only have a couple minutes, try taking deep breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth. Start by looking at the top left corner of your computer, and take one deep breath. Move your eyes to the top right corner and take another breath. Bring your eyes down to the lower right corner and repeat with another deep breath. Finish by moving your eyes to the bottom left corner and taking one more breath in through your nose and out through your mouth. Repeat this exercise if you still feel anxious. If you don't have a computer at work, pick any square object to do this exercise.
Lavender Mist
Discovery Health recommends using a lavender mist to reduce stress. This technique includes combining six to eight tablespoons of water with two to four drops of lavender essential oil. Keep the spray bottle on your desk and spray your work area when you're feeling anxious. The smell of lavender will help you relax.
