Although it might seem like they go hand-in-hand, busy days and stressful days are two different things. You can have a hectic day without stacks of looming assignments hanging over your head or the pressure of avoiding eye contact with your boss as you slowly back away from your desk at 7 p.m., stressed AF.

The key to keeping work and home life separate is all in your mindset. We all do things to get ourselves ready for work mentally, and then we have different things we do to destress after work. But why not start de-stressing before you even leave the office? Keeping a cool head while at the office is just as important as getting back to one when you leave. It has been found that there is a strong correlation between renewal and productivity. A few months into my job, I found some methods that help me to stay calm and maintain a positive outlook during even the most stressful days. As we all know, it is much easier said than done to keep a cool head, but hopefully, these four ways to destress at work will make it simpler.

Take a Deep Breath.

Though it may sound cheesy, taking deep breaths helps. To-do lists and a full inbox can be daunting, but if you focus on your breathing, you can begin to calm yourself down. This should give you time to stop and think about what’s in front of you. With any luck, during that moment, you can tell yourself that to-do lists are only completed one thing at a time.

Get Moving.

Get out of your seat and move around–literally. I find that when I start to feel tired or overwhelmed at my desk, getting up for a quick walk helps. If the weather permits, take a five to ten-minute walk outdoors. Sometimes, instead of going straight back to my desk after getting up from my chair, I take a long way around so that I can have some time to think and breathe before returning to work. If you ever need to go upstairs or downstairs on your break, use the stairs instead of the elevator–it’s a great way to stay active during the day. Moving around helps improve blood circulation and brain function, and taking mini-breaks throughout the day can help you come back to challenges with fresh eyes.

Have a Go-To Person To Call.

I think we can all agree that certain people in our lives always make us feel better, whether they do it through listening skills, humor, sage advice, or just by their presence. I, one of those individuals am my grandfather. We might chat about President Obama for a bit, discuss how I should work on my French language skills, or talk about something random going on with Miami news. He always signs off with “Keep the faith high.” Regardless of how my day is going, I am left feeling inspired after speaking to him. A good attitude usually makes things go more smoothly. If you need to let out some steam, it’s handy to have somebody you can call; otherwise, work stress might build up or be vented explosively on social media for your boss to see later.

Allow Some Distractions.

Our supervisors and managers may not be thrilled about it, but we need distractions at work. For the majority of us, we’re at work for a minimum of eight hours every day. No matter how concentrated you are, your mind will start to wander eventually. Instead of trying to prevent that from happening, why don’t we make time for it instead? Keep a few websites in your bookmarks (that are appropriate for work) so you can take a quick break during the day. Sometimes, I like to seek out websites that are informative or simply make me laugh. It’s a way for me to ensure that my business doesn’t stop me from learning new things, and it also allows me to keep up with other aspects of advertising that I’m not as familiar with in my current role. Of course, inspiration is incredibly important too–a 30-second Nike commercial can be just the pick-me-up you need during a busy week. Laughter is also key–reading or watching something funny can improve your mood significantly.

Take some time for yourself every day, even if it’s just a few minutes. It may be difficult if you’re used to working all the time, but everyone needs to recover after exerting themselves–even the best athletes in the world have to rest between competitions.

In the future, don’t hesitate to destress from work and take a break when you need it.

You work hard day in and day out. You’ve earned it–take some time for yourself!

Leave us a comment below and let us know how you take some time out of your day to relax!

Join Forces of Women Professionals

Stay empowered, inspired, and connected with a network of incredible women. Subscribe to our email updates today and be part of a vibrant community driving change together. Don’t miss out on exclusive content, events, and opportunities. Together, we’re more vital! Subscribe now!