When you’re stressed at work, a two hour deep-tissue massage will probably do the trick. Sadly, for most of us, an all-indulgent spa day is not a feasible corporate expense. Even so, it’s important to keep our stress levels in check – especially at the office. But when you’re so plugged into your work and the endless items on your to-do list, it can be hard to remember to check in with yourself. The solution? Making breaks a scheduled part of your day. And with our round-up of 5 of the best ways to deal with stress without leaving your desk, we’re sure you'll be relaxed in no time...
Breathe
You likely don’t pay much attention to your breath, after all, you do it all day long and it’s completely automatic. But, becoming more aware of your breath and performing a few deep breathing exercises can produce a natural, relaxation response. Working to increase the supply of oxygen to your brain and helping to promote a state of calmness, deep breathing techniques assist you in focussing on your body, which can quieten your mind.
How to: Sit at your desk, close your eyes and fully relax into the surface that supports you. Take a long, deep breath and with each exhalation, try adding a gentle sigh. Each sigh helps set your body to its natural state of ease.
We recommend:Neom Pulse Point Real Luxury Stress Relief Treatment.
Roll onto your pulse points (wrists, temples and behind the ears) to unlock the power of the twenty-four, wonderfully calming essential oils. Breathe in through your nose for seven seconds and out through your mouth for eleven seconds.
Visualisation
When you physically can’t go to your happy place, a quick mental vacation can do wonders for your stress. Visualise one of the most relaxing scenes you can imagine – a beach, the top of a mountain, your favourite chair in the living room, or any other place you’d love to be.
How to: Close your eyes and spend a few minutes imagining you are where you want to be. Engage as many sense as you can by thinking about what you can hear, smell, touch and taste if you really where enjoying that scene.
We recommend:Jurlique Aromatherapy Calming Mist
Infused with Lavender and Grapefruit Pure Essential Oils, this hydrating spritz releases a cloud of pure tranquillity to melt away everyday stress and tension. To encourage visualisation, close your eyes and mouth and spray generously above your head whilst you inhale deeply.
Engage Your Senses
Focusing on engaging your senses is another way to refocus your attention and help you let go of worry. The key is to find out which sense is most helpful for you to engage. While some people find that listening to music calms their minds, others experience maximum stress relief by clasping a stress ball.
How to: We recommend experimenting with a variety of activities that engage your senses. Give yourself a quick hand massage, eat a piece of your favourite cake, or squeeze a stress ball. With practice, you’ll learn to recognise which types of sensory activities provide you with the most stress relief.
We recommend: Crabtree & Evelyn Rosewater Hand Therapy
With a blend of classic and natural ingredients to care for your hands and engage the sense, this unique treatment will leave skin marvellously scented and soft, turning an ordinary moment into bliss…
Laugh
We’ve all heard the saying that laughter is the best medicine. A hearty chuckle stimulates circulation and soothes tension, which works to relieve some of the physical symptoms of stress. Laughter also increased endorphins released by the brain and works to produce a feeling of calm.
How to: Surround yourself with a few items that will induce laughter. Keep a folder filled with funny photos or ridiculous jokes. Talk to a co-worker with a hearty sense of humour or share a funny story. A willingness to laugh at yourself sometimes can also serve as a good reminder not to take yourself or life too seriously which in turn, can do wonders for your stress level.
We Recommend:Aromaworks Inspire Room Mist
Uplift your mood with the Inspire Room Mist from Aromaworks. A luxurious blend of essential oils that perfectly harmonise to leave a lingering fragrance, the spray features top notes of spicy Black Pepper and sweet Juniper Berry, with hints of zingy Lime and a delicate heart of Geranium.
Eyebrow Massage
Take a moment to regroup and clear your mind before tackling the task at hand. Although an eyebrow massage might not seem like the most feasible way to reduce your stress at work, the stimulation will help tension drain from the face and work to counteract over-thinking.
How to: Rest one elbow on your desk and use your thumb and forefinger of one hand to squeeze the very top of the bridge of the nose. Gently press your fingers up into the brow bone and take three to five breaths. This stimulates the acupressure point known as ‘eyes bright’ to refresh the vision and clear the head.
We recommend: Aurelia Probiotic Skincare Calming Botanical Essence
Complete with a calming blend of essential oils and Fragonia, the comforting mist offers a deeply relaxing experience that is able to eliminate feelings of stress. Dispense a few drops of this innovative oil onto your thumb and forefinger for a intensified massage.
