Tinder. Bumble. Happn. We can often be so focused on finding love that we forget to nourish the most important relationship of all- the one with ourselves. One of the easiest places for us to lose our sense of self care is in the office. While you may start your day in a high-vibe state, the rest of the day can lead us off track, triggered by our busy lives, the people around us, work stress, too many emails and endless notifications on our phones. If you’re looking to bring more happiness to your office, here are 9 ways to make sure you stay healthy, happy, and centred throughout the day.
1.Remember to breathe
Throughout the day remember to take deep breaths. We often subconsciously hold our breath when we’re stressed, so taking a moment to breathe consciously can relax body and mind.
2. Keep hydrated
With so much of our body made of water, drinking water is crucial. Being dehydrated also makes your brain work less effectively. Remembering to drink water throughout the day will also make sure you get up from your desk. It can be too easy to get drawn into a project and stay sedentary for hours, but drinking water will encourage you to get moving!
3.Move
Our bodies aren’t designed to sit in chairs and stare at screens all day and yet this is what we do to them 5 days a week. Make sure therefore that you get up and move at least every hour. You can make this fun- if you work from home, dance to your favourite song or drop into a plank. If you work in an office, instead of emailing someone, walk to their desk, or use your lunch break to have a quick walk.
4. Be social
If you work from an office it’s easy to maintain being social, but if you work from home it can be easy to hibernate without human contact (I know, I’ve done it). Getting out is crucial! Build in some social time by working from a coffee shop or co-working space, or scheduling in a catch up with someone in your industry. We’re social creatures, so force yourself to get out- it will do you the world of good.
5.Rest Your Eyes
Staring at screens for hours can leave our eyes tired. To help with this, light a candle and stare at the flickering flame of a candle for one minute whilst breathing deeply. This will refocus your eyes and calm you down. If you can’t light a candle, find an alternative point of focus.
6.Meditate
When your day is spent around to-do lists and other people’s agendas, it’s very easy to disconnect from ourselves. To stay connected, try this simple meditation practice: place your thumb on the pulse point on your wrist. On each beat repeat a mantra in your mind, such as “calm” or “breathe”, for one minute. This can be done no matter where you are and will help you not only reconnect but remain calm.
7. Prioritize
Ever feel so overwhelmed by your to do list that you don’t even know where to begin? We all have our limits, so make sure to get the most important or challenging tasks done first. If you get your most difficult projects completed in the morning, it will spark momentum to keep going throughout the day.
8. Pause Emails
Constantly answering emails can leave us in a reactive state. It’s easy to spend the entire day responding to other people’s non-urgent requests and tasks instead of completing your own. To avoid this, do your important tasks then set aside a chunk of time to tackle your inbox. I send all the important messages I need to send before I even start reading others.
9. Brighten Your Space
Whatever your work space looks like, you can do your part to make it feel good to you. Keep your space tidy to allow your mind the space to think clearly and try keeping essential oils on hand-
I keep essential oils at my desk and in my bag. I also listen to music while I’m working which you could try.
Your working day doesn’t have to be stress-filled at the sake of your sanity. Trying to incorporate a few of these simple practices will help you stay grounded and centered, no matter how many emails come at you!
