5 Ways Way to Relieve Work-Related Stress

Does your occupation leave you feeling stressed at the end of the day? Well, you aren't alone. According to a recent study conducted by Northwestern National Life, 40% of respondents said their job was "very or extremely stressful." 

Sleep

Sleep (or lack thereof) will directly affect your stress levels. When you don't enough shut eye at night, you'll wake the following morning with higher stress levels. This is attributed to the fact that sleep helps to regulate the body's hormones, and when you don't get enough of it, cortisol and similar stress hormones begin to rise.

Get a Massage

Massage therapy has been used for centuries to lower stress levels, and even today it remains a popular technique for this very purpose. So the next time you feel the onset of work-related stress, schedule an appointment for a massage. This therapeutic practice will relieve both mental and physical stress, leaving you feeling refreshed and ready to tackle whatever your occupation has to throw your way.

Deep Breathing

Performing deep breathing exercises may also lower your stress levels. Simply take a deep breath, hold it for a few seconds, and then release. Rinse and repeat the cycle for 5-10 minutes and you should notice an improvement in your stress levels. According to a report published by Harvard University, shallow breathing limits the diaphragm's range of motion, which in turn reduces the amount of oxygen the lungs receive. Deep breathing, on the other hand, encourages more oxygen to flow into the lungs.

Eat Right

What is your typical lunch or dinner? If you choose highly processed fast food, you may suffer from higher stress levels. Processed foods such as this are often loaded in sodium, saturated fat, and sugar, while offering little-to-no nutrition in return. A better approach is to base your diet around lean meats (e.g. chicken, fish, turkey), along with fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, and whole grains.

Take a Break

The average U.S. worker now clocks 46.7 hours at his or her job. Those long workdays (or nights) can take a toll on a worker's health, raising both stress and blood pressure levels. There's nothing wrong with some occasional overtime, but you should listen to your body and take regular breaks when needed.