10 Relaxation Tips for Stress at the Office

The symptoms of stress are varied and can range from tension headaches to back pains and sleeplessness. Therefore study yourself so that you can know how your body reacts when you are stressed. This self knowledge will help you manage the source of your stress and enable you to begin practicing relaxation techniques before you succumb to full-blown stress-related illnesses like hypertension and peptic ulcer disease.

This blog post on 10 relaxation tips for stress at the office will teach you the steps you can take to deal with the stress at work.

Pray

The first thing that you should do when faced with any stressful situation is to pray because it is written, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, let your requests be made known to God" (Philippians 4:6)

Therefore, take a minute of two to pray about the things that are stressing you in the office and ask God to help you deal with them.

Breathe

The body's reaction to stress involves taking small, shallow breaths. 

Therefore counter this response by inhaling deeply until your abdomen rises and exhaling deeply until it drops. Do this several times and you will begin to feel less stressed because abdominal breathing is a very effective relaxation technique.

Meditate

Meditation reduces stress, anxiety and depression. It also improves focus and concentration.

Therefore, when you find yourself getting stressed at the office, take a moment to meditate on Bible verses like I can do all things through Jesus Christ Who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)

Do not be afraid because I am with you. Do not be dismayed because I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with my righteous Right Hand. (Isaiah 41:10)

Click here for more Bible Verses to meditate on

Organize your Work Space

Clutter contributes to feeling stressed. 

Therefore, organize your work space by tidying it and de-cluttering it. Place all your items in their designated spots. Make this an ongoing daily process by ensuring that everything that is brought into your office is neatly placed in its nook.

Organize your Work

Before your work day begins, plan how you will do the activities you are expected to do. If possible, develop a routine since engaging in repetitive activities relaxes the body and ensures you will not miss a task.

Skip the Coffee

Skip the coffee during your morning break since caffeine can trigger reactions in the body that are similar to those of the stress reaction. 

Therefore, drink fresh fruit juices or sip green tea since it contains L-Theanine which reduces your body’s responses to stress.

Eat a Stress-Reducing Lunch

Eat foods that will not affect your mood adversely to avoid aggravating the effects of a stressful workplace. 

For example, eat sandwiches made from whole wheat bread since they will not cause the rapid changes in blood sugar levels that are associated with the release of stress hormones. For optimum results, finish your lunch with a single square of dark chocolate since studies have shown that dark chocolate lowers stress levels.

Click here to learn about the Christian Chocolate Meditation

Relax over Lunch

After eating, relax for a few minutes by reading or giving yourself a temple massage with relaxing lavender oil. You can also fill crosswords or complete Sudoku puzzles during your lunch break to divert your mind from the stressful events in your work place.

Relax Yourself Progressively

At the end of the work day, if you find that you are tightly wound because of work-related stress, progressively relax your muscles. 

To do this, tighten the muscles of your right foot for a few seconds and focus on how they feel. Follow this by relaxing the same muscles and focusing on the sensation so that you can know when those muscles are relaxed as this will help you differentiate when you are tense from when you are relaxed. Proceed with this tightening and relaxing of your muscles groups as you work your way up your body until you finish with the muscles on your face.

Visualize your Vacation

If you need a vacation because of the stress you are experiencing, but you cannot afford to take one, practice guided imagery. 

To do this, close your eyes and imagine yourself at your favorite vacation spot. See the sights, hear the sounds, feel the sensations and even taste the food you are eating in your mental vacation.

To learn more relaxation tips for stress at the office, read Rules of Relaxation.

Please share in the comments section how you deal with stress at the office