Dealing with stress isn't fun at the best of times, let alone at the office. That being said, using stress to your advantage is a unique challenge that sits at the heart of acupressure. How you respond to stress is entirely in your hands, but here are a handful of ways that can reduce its impact and improve your wellbeing at the same time.
1. Respond, don’t react to job stress
Stress at work comes from so many places. It can be pressure from above or below—and even within. Sometimes it's as small as an email, or something that happened before you left home. But when experiences catch you off guard, that's the perfect time to do something about it.
Otherwise, things can spiral, and that's when we end up committing to things we don't want to do, and saying things we don’t mean.
How to respond instead of react?
Take 5
Ever thought, "I wish I'd done that", after the fact? Taking a moment to step back and view things from all angles can make a massive difference.
Try meditating on it
We're not saying sit down in a full lotus inside a meeting room or pause the Zoom to take 10, but meditation is the art of observing your thoughts, emotions, and feelings without reacting to them.
It's actually what taking 5 is all about. You notice how you're feeling, then let those feelings pass. This helps you step back from your emotions and build self-awareness.
Just like acupressure, it feels uncomfortable at first. But the more you practice, the easier (and more rewarding) it becomes.
Write it down and leave it
Ever wanted to give someone a piece of your mind? When something constantly plays on your mind and you can’t stop thinking about it, it can be best to get it out of your head.
Try writing those thoughts and feelings somewhere private as a way to acknowledge and save it for later. If you find yourself returning to or writing about the same thing more than two or three times, it’s time to address it.
2. Get a little acupressure in
Seriously, spikes can help here, and there’s more than one way to go about it.
If you're at work
Try a Wonderball. Its spikes, stand and rolling were designed to sit on your desk when your mind needs a break and tension creeps into your day. Rolling the spikes between your hands and over your face releases the tension they hold in seconds.
It feels like a 10-minute break when you only have 2. You can also double down (or get to the point a little faster and more discreetly) with a set of Torus Rings.
When you get home
If you haven’t got a partner to give you a professional foot massage (or you don’t like people touching your feet!), try standing on a Shakti Mat.
Feet hold plenty of tension, and it’s a breathtaking experience, but we liken it to reflexology. Your feet are connected to the rest of your body, and they hold plenty of points. By stimulating them, you can do a whole lot of good for the rest of your body.
Besides, who has time (or a willing partner) for foot massages every night?
3. Make time to decompress
Work can be overstimulating and exhausting at the best of times. A chaotic household can amplify that, and scrolling before bed can heighten as much as it feels like it can relax. That’s why taking time to decompress is vital for dealing with stress before it can turn into burnout.
Here are a couple of strategies for managing stress in the workplace that you can do at home:
Establish a sense of calm on the way home
Play one of your favourite songs. Watch a couple of videos of your kids. Even watch a bit of your favorite show. Just something to get you out of your head, and away from the day that was.
Make 'you' time part of your nightly routine
We're not talking about a 6-step skincare routine, 2-hour workout or more work on your side hustle. We're talking about a short window to recharge and engage in real self-care.
Roll out those spikes
Your Shakti Mat only needs 20 minutes to work its magic. And let's be real—chances are that you'd spend at least half that time scrolling or choosing something to watch anyway. The initial sensation of bare skin against its muscle-melting spikes forces your mind inward, and whatever happened during the day becomes the last thing on your mind.
It only takes 20 minutes to relax, recharge, release the tense spots stress manifests in and reconnect with yourself.
