Five Outside-the-Box Ways to Combat Work Stress That Really Work

Combat Work Stress-Chispa MagazineWhether it’s caused by strict deadlines, a grumpy boss or the intensity of your job, you’re bound to be under some amount of work-related stress, which can make you less productive, but also lead to various health issues. This is why it’s important to lower the stress levels and find a way to calm down. You’ve heard all the tips, took all of the advice you hear from your friends and read online, but none of it really worked for you. Maybe it’s time to start thinking outside the box and find some more creative ways to combat work stress. Here are five things you can try.

A vacation with a twist. Some people find sunbathing with a good book at some tropical beach relaxing, but others would get bored of this within minutes.  So, if you don’t want a standard, lazy vacation, why not go on a gorilla safari in Uganda, or try sand-boarding? Maybe you can go deep under the ocean surface to see the wreck of the Titanic up close or go running with the bulls in Spain. You can find many ideas like this online, as well as travel agencies that organize this sort of extreme vacations, so that you can really get rid of any stress you’ve built up working.

Take your hobby up a notch. Many people unwind through their hobbies. However, don’t limit yourself to the most common ones, like collecting stamps or gardening. If you enjoy adventures or you’re an adrenaline junky, you can find stress relief in some more interesting hobbies, such as shooting with a bow and arrow or even target shooting. If you need a hobby that requires attention to small details, try carving eggshells or make models of ships or planes. The point is to find something that will make you happy and fill your spare time with excitement and joy. Since this differs from one person to another, there are no rules and you’re only restricted by your own imagination.

Turn to natural remedies. The pharmaceutical industry has a solution for everything, but if you want to calm yourself down in a more natural way, there are various herbs that can help you. A cup of chamomile or lavender tea will relax you after a long day. If that’s not enough, you can try valerian drops, which will calm you down and help you fall asleep, so they’re the most useful in the evening, before you go to bed.

Shake things up a bit. A routine is a good way to get things done, since everything has its time and place, but once you start doing things automatically and start losing yourself in the same old same-old, it may just be time to throw in some diversity to your days. Instead of taking the bus, walk some of the way, or ride your bike to work. Alter your everyday route and see something new on your way to the office in the morning, or home in the afternoon. Change the order in which you complete your tasks, or find another way to fulfill them to make things a bit more interesting. It will make you think in a different way and perhaps let you find joy where now there’s only frustration and stress. If nothing else, redecorate your office to make it a bit more vibrant. Small things like that may sound insignificant, but they can cheer you up and calm you down.

Make the best of your lunch break. If you use your lunch break to eat your tuna sandwich at your desk, you’re not using your lunch break as well as you could. If you have to stay in your office, use that time to watch an episode of your favorite sitcom and have a good laugh, or make a lunch date with some of your friends. Another option is to go and have your lunch outside, in a nearby park or even a nice diner. And while you’re outside, chat with people, play a game of chess with somebody, or bring your guitar, play it and sing your stress away. Do some high-intensity exercises or just stretch a bit. Think about what could make you feel better and just do it.

Don’t allow your work to get the best of you. There is so much more to you than just a good employee, so find a way to eliminate stress and be a better version of yourself for yourself, as well as for those who love you.

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Luke Douglas

Luke Douglas

Luke Douglas is a fitness and health blogger at Ripped.me and a great fan of the gym and a healthy diet. He follows the trends in fitness, gym and healthy life and loves to share his knowledge through useful and informative articles.

Luke Douglas

Luke Douglas is a fitness and health blogger at Ripped.me and a great fan of the gym and a healthy diet. He follows the trends in fitness, gym and healthy life and loves to share his knowledge through useful and informative articles.