5 Tips to Help You Keep a Clear Head at Work
At times, our working day can be hectic and stressful. Sitting at a desk for hours on end or struggling through long, drawn-out meetings can feel relentless, and it’s not always easy to get through the day without losing your cool or feeling overwhelmed.
Feeling stressed at work not only affects our quality of work but can have serious effects on our health. However, there are things that you could do to help keep a clear head during your working day, keeping you as happy, effective and efficient as possible in your role.
1. Listen to Music
It might feel a little anti-social when your desk neighbour is trying to tell you about their weekend but putting in your headphones can really help you focus. Whilst blasting out heavy metal music might be counterproductive, having something on to help block out the office chatter is a great way to get into your own space. Plus, classical music is proven to increase your IQ when you listen to it, so popping on some Mozart might just help you take your work to the next level.
2. Make the Most of Your Rest Time
Taking breaks can be a great way to switch your mind off work for a moment – and are advised for a healthy working life. Making the most of breaks is an important part of keeping a clear head. If you’re going to make a coffee, try to chat to a colleague about something social and avoid work-related conversation. Also, making the most of your lunch break and getting a change of scenery is a great way to hit the reset button midway through the day.
3. Control Your Breathing
Sometimes there are moments in your day where you feel completely overwhelmed and need to take immediate action to calm down. Doing some breathing exercises at your desk is a quick way to relieve any stress or tension by lowering your heart rate and blood pressure. Take deep breaths in from your diaphragm and hold for three seconds before releasing slowly. Repeating this a few times should help to settle your mind and keep you calm.
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4. Don’t Take on Too Much
Using some of these solutions can be great, however taking steps to avoid stressful situations in the first place is the best way to avoid the need for relief. It can be easy to take on too much and over-promise if you’re looking to impress at work, however this can be seriously detrimental to you and your performance. Only take on what you’re confident you can get done – you’re not helping anyone if you over-promise and fail to deliver.
5. Give Yourself a Break
Although you could literally take this advice and give yourself some extra breaks, we’re talking about making sure you’re not too hard on yourself. If you’re struggling to hit a deadline, feeling a little out of sorts or just working through a tough task, remember not to beat yourself up. We all have bad days and struggle with certain tasks, so accepting this is the first step towards keeping a clear head and working through any difficulties.
Do you have any tips for keeping your cool at work? Let us know on Twitter @viking_chat.
