Work Relaxation:

Mini Breaks

Sometimes, especially during our busy and often times stressful hours we spend at work, it can be really hard to maintain a strong sense of perspective and not get lost in the chaos and stress. Making a mindful effort to monitor and mitigate your stress-levels at work can help increase your quality of life tremendously.

Mini Breaks

There are many "mini-breaks" that we can have in-between the day. In fact, we probably should make it a point to do so. Some of the different types of breaks we can (and should) take include "Body Breaks" and "Brain Breaks" (or "Mental Health Breaks").

Body Breaks

Body Breaks Examples:

Listen to your body! Go to the bathroom when you get the urge, don't hold it in.
Always make sure you drink a glass of water every 2 hours. We often don't drink enough as it is, and this doubles as a "mini-walk" and "mini-screen time" break.
If your back hurts or you're noticing that you're adjusting your body, talk to an ergonomic professional and try standing, or adjusting your environment.
If your eyes are strained, that's a great opportunity to get up and take a 10 minute walk. Relax your eyes and refresh your mind. Maybe get some water during your walk :)

Brain Breaks

Brain Break Examples:

Take a hike! Ok maybe not a hike...but go for a walk around the block and get some fresh air.
If you're too busy for a full break, try working outdoors for 30 minutes.
Sit in silence and have a "mindful moment" to just be with your thoughts for a minute. Check yourself and scan your mind for any anxious thoughts and take the time to self-reflect.
Talk to a friend about something fun and forget about work for a short time.

Even if your body isn't signaling you to take a break, when you were an hourly employee you were given the right to have 2 10-15 minute breaks every 2 hours during your shift. There is a reason breaks are government-mandated for those hourly employees, and I'd argue they should be commonplace for working professionals as well. You should try to set an alarm or a calendar reminder to give yourself that same break now that you're a salaried employee.

If you're struggling to implement any of these tips, you can try to find what works for you. Maybe try downloading an app! They have plenty of apps to remind you to drink water, stand, eat, etc.

Note: A good night's sleep is the biggest "brain break" you could have. If you're not getting enough sleep (7-8 hours a day) then you're not your best self throughout the day! Stay off your phone for an hour before you sleep and prepare for bedtime and make that sacred like you should try to make your lunch sacred. We will explore sleep in a later article.

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