Many busy professionals don’t have the luxury to be able to take time off to decompress. The job pays well, and because they need to provide for their families, they can’t just walk away. It can actually put pressure on the weekends and vacations they do take to try to make up for so much built up stress.
Being able to relax, to sleep, to have calm moments throughout the day, is essential for self-care. And it can even be achieved without quitting the stressful job or taking an extended leave. While de-stressing may require a timeout to recharge the batteries, there are options available that allow continued work.
Stress and business go hand in hand
Business executives and other professionals often have a lot on their plates. Work never seems to slow down, and balancing demands with family responsibilities can be tricky. Sometimes the stress becomes unbearable, which can result in lashing out, internalizing problems, and even the desire to self-medicate. If there is a perception that the stress will never go away, that deadlines will always pile up, and sales goals will never be satisfactorily met, then the need for a remedy is critical.
Tips for self-care
A holistic or whole-person approach to de-stressing factors work life into self-care. If someone learns to manage their stress, the positive aspects of the career can outweigh the negative. Some holistic self-care options include:
- Meditation
- Acupuncture
- Nutrition
- Massage
- Exercise
Meditation
Even a busy executive can take an uninterrupted lunch. With just twenty minutes during the day, meditation can uplift your mood, increase mindfulness, and make you less emotionally reactive. This makes you work better with those around you and you are much more likely to enjoy your work interactions. Meditation can improve your performance and your overall well-being.
Acupuncture
A study from Georgetown University showed that acupuncture actually reduced the body’s production of stress hormones. This means it’s not just a placebo effect, or a feel-good therapy. It really works.
Nutrition
People will sometimes turn to food as a reaction to stress, and stress, in-turn can contribute to obesity. But the right foods can help manage stress. There’s a long list of healthy foods with benefits that can counteract the effects of stress: leafy greens, avocados, whole grains, bananas, nuts, dark chocolate, and fatty fish. And of course, you should also be sure to get enough water.
Massage
We all know that massages are relaxing, that’s the whole draw. But they’ve also been clinically proven to have positive effects. In the same way making time for meditation or acupuncture can help relieve the negative effects of stress, it may be that a regular massage would better fit your comfort level.
Exercise
Exercise is the ultimate preventative and it’s also really good at relieving stress. Even mild exercise can have benefits. Combining exercise with mindfulness can have double the effect. How many times have you been so upset about something, you were ready to quit your job, then after a walk, a swim, or a bike ride you felt much better, more level-headed, and you were able to find a solution that worked for everyone? Finding the time to exercise can save your life. Stress can lead to heart problems, and exercise can heal you.
If you don’t have time to head to the gym, consider adding a workout space in your own home. If you have an unfinished basement, you could renovate this area and transform it into the at-home gym of your dreams. Just remember that you’ll need to get at least three quotes from potential contractors, and note that your budget could go up if you opt for higher-grade materials or want more extensive renovations.
Meditation, massage, acupuncture, and good nutrition can really just pave the way for exercise and they can all work well together. If you meditate and it puts you in a good mood, you’ll be more likely to want to exercise. If you’re sore from your workout, massage or acupuncture can help with the pain and get you back in the gym sooner.
Most importantly, with stress reduced, you can enjoy your job and the people you work with. By making the time to introduce stress relief into your day, you can make the work environment less stressful for others too.
If you’re looking to add yoga to your daily routine, look no further than Yogaaah! for online and onsite yoga training and classes.