Sitting at a desk all day? Maybe you are running for appointments or even standing all day at your job? Sitting or standing, stress in the workplace is so common it can feel like a jacket we put on during work hours. These tips help at work, home or in between to release and relax and melt away stress and tension.
Shrug it off! We often store stress in our shoulders. Release it! Gently bring your shoulders up to your earlobes. Hold 5 seconds, then lift a little higher still hold for 5 seconds, then drop your shoulders, allowing gravity to drop them. Try sighing out a little. These 10 seconds will do more to calm your nerves than fattening junk from the candy machine.
Reconnect your body with your brain. Diving into your work sometimes means only being in your head with no regard for your body or your posture. An excellent practice when tired at work, this simple trick will give you a burst of energy and align your brain with your body. Inhale deeply through your nose imagining the air is reaching your “third eye” (the space between your eyebrows). If you get dizzy, back off a little and take a smaller breath. This will light up your pineal gland. French philosopher Rene Descartes called the pineal gland the “Seat of the Soul”; the meeting point of the intellect and the body. This gland controls the release of melatonin, a hormone that regulates your wake / sleep function. The air will light up your pineal gland, giving your face more glow and a boost of energy. Certainly cheaper than an energy drink!
Roll with it, baby. Roll your shoulders to the back five times, then reverse it and roll your shoulders in towards your chest and around five times. Stress stored between your should blades releases. You can also roll your neck gently letting your right ear drop towards your right shoulder, around to the back (if you have that range of motion), over to the other shoulder and drop your chin to your chest. Roll in both directions.
Blow off steam. Called “Simhashana” or “Lion’s pose” in yoga, this can be done at your desk or in your car, but you might want to save it for a private spot. Stick your tongue all the way out trying to touch your chin and sigh out heavily like a lions roar. Inhale, exhale out loudly while extending your tongue. Three times is optimal but even once releases stress and is said to be good for regulating blood pressure. Try this one in traffic!
Give yourself a hug. You can tell everyone you are just stretching your arms that are sore from your triathlon training while you wrap both arms around yourself. Then, take a deep breath in and let it out slowly. Try hugging and inhaling for a 4 count, then exhaling for an 8 count. It never hurts to tell yourself “I love you”.