Keisha BlairHow To Incorporate Mental Wellness At Work
We’re always hearing about how bad stress is for our mental and physical state, but we’re all stressed so, come on, it can’t really be that bad, right? Wrong. Stress can effect your health in a number of irreversible ways making it essential that we all find a way to incorporate more mental wellness into our day-to-day life. In an effort to maximize our time and results we turned to Breathe Easy co-founder, Ellen Patrick, a wellness expert and yoga therapist, and asked her to share with us how we can incorporate wellness practices at work.
Take Breathing Breaks
You’re thinking, “Why take a breathing break when I’m breathing all day long?” The answer is because most of us have shallow breathing patterns. Take 5 minutes in the morning and 5 minutes in the afternoon to consciously and fully breathe into your lungs, watching your chest and belly expand and relax. This will calm your nervous system, decrease stress and revive your energy.
Eat Healthy Snacks Between Meals
Ditch the donuts and chocolate bars and instead grab nuts, carrot sticks or fruit to munch on mid-morning and mid-afternoon. These snacks will inhibit a drop in your blood sugar and prevent energy slumps.
Do Simple Yoga Stretches at Your Desk
Our posture suffers from sitting all day working at a computer screen. To counteract the muscle tension this creates, simple yoga stretches can release both physical and mental stress. Take a few minutes to stand up and clasp your hands behind your back. Press your hands away from your body and feel the delicious stretch of muscles across your chest. Your body will thank you.
Drink Lots of Water
Our body is made up of 60% water, so it’s important to stay hydrated. Watering the body will help to flush out the kidneys, combat muscle fatigue and give your skin a healthy glow. Throw some fruit, like lemon or orange, into your water to make it extra tasty.