18th June 2020

10 ways to de-stress

Stress relief to help you stay on top of tight deadlines, overloaded to-do lists and personal lives. All attribute that can lead to the stress that can cause us to lose focus. And sometimes, get the better of us.

If we are mindful and considerate about stress, through taking it head on we can alleviate the pressure, stay productive and happy at work.

You can calm your mind and reduce anxiety in minutes with some quick everyday techniques that can be used as and when needed:

Take a walk – Sounds simple, and if you sit behind a desk all day this is one of the best solutions for de-stressing. A 15-minute walk will encourage your brain to release endorphins that subdue anxiety, increase your energy level, and improve your mood. Based on 50 acres of parkland, Adapt by Arlington has plenty of space for you to roam.

Stretch – Similar to walking, stretching will loosen up the body and increase blood flow. There are plenty of office specific stretching techniques to be found online. Alternatively start your day or use your lunch time to practice yoga, something our community offers on site, and ease both the mental and physical effects of anxiety.

Take deep breaths – Deep breathing helps increase oxygen flow throughout your body and stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, which promotes calmness. Breath in slowly through your nose to fill your lungs, and then out through your mouth. Repeat 10 times and you will start to feel the stress melt away.

Make a priority checklist – When you’re starting to feel overwhelmed and you find your to-do list growing, be sure to reprioritise. Take a deep breath, a short break and write out a new checklist ordered by deadlines. When compared to your original growing to-do list, creating a fresh one will help you re-focus, think through your tasks and make it easier to see a way forward.

Talk it through – Like with a new checklist, by talking through your tasks and asking a colleague or friend to help you reprioritise will help you re-focus and better see a way forward.

Listen to music – Research has found that listening to music will decrease stress hormones, alleviate anxiety, reduce pain, make you work more efficiently and even provide a creative boost. So pull together your favourite stress busting tunes and sing-a-long.

Swap coffee for tea – Coffee has a greater amount of caffeine than tea, which may lead to more anxiety especially if you are already stressed. Tea can provide you with a more manageable energy kick. Next time you are reaching for something to help you meet a deadline, try tea instead of coffee.

Take a reading break – Step away from your screens including social media and grab a magazine, newspaper, or book. Reading is found to decrease blood pressure, lower heart rate, and reduce stress significantly, with results showing in as quick as six minutes!

Use essential oils – Often used as a natural treatment to aid wellbeing, you can find oils for almost every ailment. Lavender is most popular for coping with stress. More potent than the plant itself, use lavender oil by placing a few drops in your hands, cupping them over your nose and taking a deep breath to alleviate anxiety and stress.

Meditation apps – Used to produce a deep state of relaxation and a tranquil mind, meditation focuses your attention to eliminate the stream of thoughts that may be overcrowding your mind and causes stress. Simple techniques practiced regular and for as few as 10 minutes per day can help to control stress, decrease anxiety, and improve your capacity for relaxation. Try one of the many mobile apps and follow personalised meditations to practice mindfulness.