Having a rough day? These techniques will get your nerves in order
As professionals, we've all experienced our fair share of down in the dumps moment, where nothing seems to be clicking and all you want is to clock out and get to the comfort of our home. Going through the grinds of a cut-throat work environment does take a toll and you'd be far from normal if you didn't belch under pressure. Here are three easy to execute relaxation techniques, which will calm your nerves when tough clients are breathing down your neck, or as deadline pressure inches on.
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Make a phone call
Deep breathing exercises certainly do alleviate stress, but the next time consider making a phone call after you're done with a set of breathing exercises. The idea here is to divert the mind off the situation. It's not just enough to weather the storm in your mind, you need to steer your mind away to calm your senses. As the wise saying goes, he who stands at the edge of a cliff would realise that progress is taking a step backwards. When things threaten to drive us off a cliff, the best thing is to get away, as far as possible, from the cliff. The closer we are to a problem the more distorted it would look to us, like trying to draw a face with our nose sticking to the paper.
Stepping back gives a better perspective. Taking the mind off the situation helps in coming back to the problem with a more refreshed and active mind. The trick here is to call the right person - preferably a friend who has nothing to do with your work.
Stimulate your mind
Fanning away at the embers doesn't douse the fire, it just spreads it. This is to say that a mind in distress will always be a hindrance to creativity or productivity. When your work stress gets beyond measures, just take a small break and try to stimulate your mind. Go for a brisk walk, doodle, read something, just take your mind off work and reboot. Creative juices also have a limit, so rather than trying to squeeze it out give it some rest and get back with a fresh perspective.
Solve a riddle
Tired of solving problems? Try your hand at solving a riddle or a crossword. An excellent way to relax and sharpen your mind, this practice has been evident for decades. Riddles are not people, they don't breath down your neck neither do they dictate deadlines. They're quite fun when everything around you decides to look grey. Solving puzzles triggers our creative faculty and boosts our confidence.
Staying relaxed is the key to growing the right way. A calm and composed demeanour will take you further than an agitated mind which can only bring about chaos, sooner than later.