Natural Ways to Beat Office Stress
It's easy to make your office a less stressful environment to work in. Simple changes can be so effective. Okay, so you can't change your work colleagues, but you do have control over your personal office space. Maybe it's time to make a few changes to rejuvenate your life at work.
Use A Chair That Cares
It's no good sitting at your desk for 10 hours a day in an old chair that doesn't support your body properly. If you have back or neck pain, your body is telling you there's a problem. Ask your boss to get you a new office chair that correctly supports your spine and promotes good posture. An aching body simply adds to your mental stress.
Tidy Your Desk
Unnecessary clutter makes you work less efficiently and interferes with concentration. You will work more effectively when you have a tidy desk. Do you really need to keep those coffee-stained documents piling up behind your computer monitor? If you don't need it, lose it.
Change to Full Spectrum Lighting
If you don't already have daylight full spectrum lighting, make the change. People report fewer headaches and less eye strain under this type of light. It can also increase the release of serotonin, the hormone that naturally boosts your mood. This will also help sufferers of seasonal affective disorder.
Keep Family and Friends Near
Photographs of your family and loved ones can really help to keep stress levels down, reminding you of the world outside your office. A few serene pictures on your walls will also help you relax.
Listen to Music
If you have the privacy to play music in your office, this is a great way to make your space a real retreat. If it invades the space of others, put on some headphones. Music can be extremely calming and inspirational. Next time you get stressed, you know what to do.
Go Green
Put a few plants in your office and make sure they're in your peripheral view. Research from Surrey University showed that plants can lower stress levels and even increase productivity. Pollutants from office furniture and carpets can cause respiratory problems and even headaches. Green plants reduce the levels of noxious gases and help us to relax, increasing our comfort and creativity.
Think Color
Color can have a real impact on stress levels. The color of your office walls should put you in a relaxed state of mind. Blue is generally thought to be calming. Green is another quiet, natural and comforting shade. Both may reduce stress levels, as these cool colors make you instantly feel more relaxed.
Eat More Fruit
Fruits contain minerals and vitamins that combat stress. A bowl of fruit on your desk is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also something healthy you can snack on throughout the day, keeping your mind refreshed.
Squeeze Away Your Troubles
Don't lose your temper with your boss. Instead, take it out on a rubber ball. There are thousands of different types of anti-stress toys to help fight fatigue. When squeezed, they stimulate the nerves in your hand, which in turn will stimulate your brain.
Enjoy An Office Massage
There are numerous companies that offer corporate massages. This is a brilliant way to boost office morale and deal with stress at the office. These sessions can even increase general productivity. A simple chair massage can take just ten minutes, but the benefits to your mood will last all day.
If you spend a good proportion of your life sitting in your office, it's worth making some small changes to make work more relaxing and free of stress. Your personal work space is an important part of your life. Give it the respect it deserves and you might just find that stress at work becomes a lot less common.
