Tips to manage stress in and out of the office

Don’t skimp on sleep – It seems rather simple but lack of sleep can have a massive impact on your productivity levels, concentration and even your creativity. When you’re tired little problems can seem much larger than they actually are.
Exercise – Exercise is vital for maintaining positive mental health. Whether it’s a quick game of five-a-side, a short jog or a quick session of yoga, exercise releases endorphins in the brain that make you feel better and it provides an excellent way to let off some steam.
Plan – Planning is a vital part of maintaining healthy mental health at work. If you don’t plan that you can be panicked by the sudden emergence of things you forgot about. Structuring your day can help you to relax as you know what needs to be done and this allows you to deal with unexpected events accordingly. All it needs is 10 minutes at the start of the day to figure out what needs done and when it’s going to be done.
Take time to breath – This is one of the simplest pieces of advice for stress relief you’ll receive but it’s also one of the most effective. BREATHE! Take a few minutes in your day to just relax and take some breaths, a little bit of time not focusing on anything but your breathing can do a world of good.

Meal planning – Planning meals is a great way to reduce stress as mealtimes can be that extra bit of added stress in your life. Take time over the weekend to do the shopping and bulk prepare meals for yourself or your family. This means that on an evening all you’ll have to do is either heat up or quickly cook your food without the thought of shopping and it gets rid of the dilemma about what to make.
Tidy home – A tidy home can contribute more to your life than just improving the aesthetics. If your house is tidy then you won’t have a problem finding things you need. If you’re rushing about on a morning unable to find things then you’re stressing out before you even get to work!
Take some time for yourself – Everyone deserves a bit of rest and relaxation. This means that it’s okay to kick out, have a glass of wine and enjoy a bath. It’s not something you should do all the time but you should definitely put aside some time for yourself.
Talk – Find a partner or a friend to discuss what’s stressing you out. Sometimes all you need to do is let it out and it’s like a weight has been lifted off your shoulder!