Many, like me, have found themselves exclusively working at home the last two years, and while that comes with all sorts of perks, it also means that you have the ability, for better or worse, to work from the time you wake up, until the time you go to bed at night.
With no commute, no time at the water cooler, and for many like myself, much to accomplish, it can be hard to find ways to take a proper break and clear our minds. So I figured I’d share a few ways that I and the team, destress while on our much needed daily breaks.
Photo by Thought Catalog
Have a nice cup of your favourite drink
Whether you love tea, coffee, warm water with lemon, or maybe even a homemade latte, taking a break and having a nice drink away from your work area, even just for 10 minutes, can help to clear your mind, refocus and get back to the task at hand.
Making sure to take breaks each workday can help you keep your focus and help you not burn out.
Play a game
How long has it been since you last played Solitaire? Until recently, it had been a while for me, but as I try to take a little more time for myself, I’ve found one of the best ways to unwind while on a quick break is to play a game. For me, I have to admit, I’ve become addicted to Klondike (aka the original Solitaire) or, for me, a more challenging game of Pyramid.
Pyramid is in the solitaire family, but you work your way through rows as you match pairs to the sum of 13 to remove them. At first, I was wildly confused, but the time does fly once you get the hang of it.
I’ve always loved playing Solitare, but I never knew that I would use it as a way to destress and take a break, but here we are. It doesn’t have to be Solitaire. It can be a different game, a puzzle, whatever works best for you. It’s all about doing what makes you feel relaxed or, at the very least, distracted.
Go for a walk
Photo by Tobi
Anyone who knows me knows that I make sure to go for a nice long walk each day. Now that I have a dog, I find myself doing two every day, and honestly, between the somewhat fresh air (I do live in Toronto), to the time spent with him, to just the enjoyment of taking a break from a screen, work, calls, etc., I find that I always feel better once I’ve come back from a stroll.
Now, your walks don’t need to be lengthy or intense, and they aren’t about steps or calories (even though they can be). Taking a nice walk is all about taking a little time for you to be out in the world to reflect and reset.
Stretch it out
When you’re younger, it may not matter as much to make sure to stretch daily, but the older you get, the more critical it seems to take some time to stretch, so why not make it into a break.
Each morning I take about 10 minutes to have a mini-stretch, do some deep breathing and clear my mind of anything I’ve been overthinking about. Stretching isn’t going to alter your world, but if you’re anything like me, it will loosen you up, allowing you to physically feel much better, which almost always helps with your mental state.
So, the next time you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed, take some time for yourself, spend some time doing something you like or is a great distraction, and once you feel better or more settled, then get back to the task at hand.
What matters is that you’re staying healthy, happy and finding a good balance, so remember to take your breaks.
markmunroe
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