Quick Stress-Release Tactics Improve Productivity
“It’s not the load that breaks you down. It’s the way you carry it.” – Lou Holtz, American football player and coach.
There’s nothing wrong with a little stress if it spurs you to action, focuses your mind, or helps you handle a new job.
But too much stress becomes strain, which derails productivity. Even minor stress compounded over a workweek can have negative effects.
Ideally, you can rely on a nice hobby or a membership to a health club. But you also need tension relievers for moments when you don’t have time for a quick run on the treadmill.
Try these ideas to give your productivity a quick boost at work:
- Get some coffee. Sometimes the best thing you can do is step away from your desk for a quick break to reset your stress meter. It may interrupt your workflow, but sometimes that’s what you need.
- Take a walk. Spend a few minutes walking briskly outside. It may not release the natural endorphins like more vigorous exercise does, but it gets you out of your chair. Even a five-minute walk can have beneficial effects.
- Squeeze a stress ball. This may seem silly, but silly things really work, and they’re easy. Pouring a few tons of stress into a rubber ball works better than putting it elsewhere.
- Practice mindfulness. Focus on the now. This might include a few minutes of meditation or closing your eyes while focusing on your breathing for one minute.
- Listen to music. Music therapy can make you feel better. Try quiet instrumental music or music you know well.
- Talk with a friend. Share your concerns or need with a friend who doesn’t work at your company. Your friend can sit quietly and let you vent, and you can do the same. Your friend might even provide some ideas or solutions that you may not have considered before.
Avoid the Explosion
Old-fashioned steam boilers had release valves to avoid an explosion when the pressure became too high. Engineer similar stress relievers for yourself. It’s much better to release tension gradually than to blow your top!
About Laura Stack: Laura Stack, MBA, CSP, CPAE is an award-winning keynote speaker, bestselling author, and noted authority on productivity and performance. Funny, engaging, and full of real life strategies that work, Laura will change mindsets and attitudes so your people can maximize productivity, strengthen performance, and get the job done right. Her presentations at corporate events, sales kick-off meetings, and association conferences help audiences improve output, increase speed in execution, and save time in the office. Stack has authored seven books, including her newest work, Doing the Right Things Right: How the Effective Executive Spends Time
For more information on Laura Stack and her programs on productivity and performance, click here.
If you would like to hire Laura Stack to deliver a keynote at your next conference, contact Midwest Speakers Bureau at 515-974-8305 or angela@speakernow.com