Yes a pretty simple title and, yes it’s true … In a world of constant change and innovation we’re putting too much pressure on ourselves and our colleagues to perform. A lunch break may not seem too important, but this form of Natural Stress Relief can ensure you take a break to rejuvenate and come back focused on the task at hand. 

Why should I take a break?  Stress at work and work related stress are on the rise.  The numbers of people experiencing stress because of the length of hours they work is going up.  For instance take a look at this article on Japanese workers.  The article showed that 355 workers became so sick from overworking they dropped dead. This is an increase of 30% over the last year. Now I understand this is an extreme example yet it shows the importance of taking a break.

What do I mean when I say take a break?  Well for starters, it doesn’t mean sitting at your desk eating your lunch while working or even surfing the net.  You have to sit somewhere other than where you work.

Here are a few suggestions on what you could do in your lunch break:

1.      Go for a walk

2.      Talk with some friends

3.      Listen to a stress relief CD

4.      Complete a puzzle

5.      Read a Magazine or book

6.      Go to the Gym for a quick workout

7.      Listen to some music

These are just a few of many things you could do.  I enjoy playing a game of table tennis, or going out for lunch with friends.  For some this may seem insignificant but these stress management techniques are an excellent way of taking a break. By the way, a break does not include going to the pub

The key here is to allow your mind and body to relax and rejuvenate.  After your break you will come back focused and ready to tackle the task at hand.  This combined with other stress relaxation techniques will guarantee a more happy and healthy YOU!

Stress Relief and Relaxation Techniques have been around for as long as men and women have experienced stress. Sure the different types of stress relief techniques there are around to treat a number of different ailments ranging from Relaxation Techniques during labor to different Relaxation Techniques for athletes.

So we all know and understand stress is around us, we experience stress at work, at home, when we’re driving, when we’re shopping, even when we’re with loved ones.

As the end of another week draws near, what better stress relaxation techniques than to read a few choice quotes on relaxation from recognized people throughout history? These quotes were taken from www.quotationspage.com, which lists a large variety of quotes for any situation.

-> Acquire inner peace and a multitude will find their salvation near you. - Catherine de Hueck Doherty

-> Nothing is permanent in this wicked world - not even our troubles. - Charlie Chaplin

-> Put duties aside at least an hour before bed and perform soothing, quiet activities that will help you relax. - Dianne Hales

-> No matter how much pressure you feel at work, if you could find ways to relax for at least five minutes every hour, you'd be more productive. - Dr. Joyce Brothers

-> There is no need to go to India or anywhere else to find peace. You will find that deep place of silence right in your room, your garden or even your bathtub. - Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

-> Stress is an ignorant state. It believes that everything is an emergency. Nothing is that important. - Natalie Goldberg

-> Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop. – Ovid

-> To sit in the shade on a fine day, and look upon verdure is the most perfect refreshment. - Jane Austen

In today’s society we place so many demands on ourselves it’s understandable why the need to seek Stress Relief is increasing.  Consider how much our lives have changed from over a century ago – what sort of lifestyle do you think your average person would have and do you think they were under more or less stress than we are today? 

By developing a balanced lifestyle of work and play you can become even more effective at what you do and gain new life skills. 

If you are working exceptionally long hours or your main focus is just your job that it’s even more understandable that will experience stress at work.  When we take on a role we like to take ownership of that role, warts and all.  We like to develop it and grow with it.  As a result the overall instances of work related stress are on the increase.  I think we’re just taking our jobs too seriously.  Have you ever seen the type of person (perhaps your one) that always frowns and looks upset?  Or the person that seems to freak out at the smallest things like they’re experiencing an anxiety panic attack?

It is important to want to grow with a new position or you career, yet the old saying ‘everything in moderation’ definitely applies to your job.  Any great career involves a balance of work and relaxation.  It is important in any job to have time for yourself.  Take up a hobby, go dancing, do some gardening.  Any of these are good examples of Stress Relaxation Techniques. The key here is to occupy your mind with something totally different than your job.  This will give you a fresh perspective on your job and will help you to be more focused.

There are also several stress management skills that would be of benefit to experience: Breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation and guided imagery. 

These Stress Relief Exercises can be developed over a period of time to prevent you from experiencing any long term stress damage and are available as a part of many Relaxation Programs.  Find some balance in your lifestyle.  If you’re working too many hours, cut back.  If you don’t have a hobby, get one.  Take the time for yourself, you deserve it.  These are the keys to less stress in your life and will help you to gain new life experience.

An article published by The Gold Coast Bulletin showed some really disturbing facts about Japanese workers.  These statistics showed that 355 workers in the year to the end of March became so sick from over working that they dropped dead.  When I read this I thought these guys seriously need to learn some good solid Relaxation Techniques or they’re going to keep dropping like flies. To add more salt to the wound the number of workers in their 30s dropping dead on the job has shot up by 30 percent.

If this isn’t a real indication that stress at work is on the increase.  So why are we all experiencing work stress nowadays where very few instances of stress were recorded before?  Well, think of all the factors that contribute to work stress; longer hours working, competition to keep a good job, longer drives on more congested roads, and the pressure this places on home life,  and this is compounding.  Imagine all the people you work with all experiencing the same thing as you day in, day out.  This all adds up to a more stressful workplace.

So what can one do to experience some form of Stress Relief?  One of the highest recommended Stress Relief Techniques is to avoid over working.  How many hours do you work in a week?  Are you paid for those hours and are you neglecting anyone around you by working this many hours.  So, take a break if you’re working too many hours.  Secondly find a structured Stress Management program that contains heaps of really useful Stress Management Tips and activities.  This will ensure what ever damage was done before will be fixed and will help you and others to work in a happier workplace.  If you to take one thing away from this it should be … we work to live, we don’t live to work.  Remember that when you’re feeling so stressed at work that you start to feel the symptoms of an anxiety attack kicking in, and do something about it before you work so hard that you drop dead too!

I’m going nuts!  Everyday I stress at work and I can’t take it anymore.  I hear this all the time.  Too much pressure and it seems to be getting worse.  Consider for a moment work stress and think where it actually comes from.  Is it really from work or could it be from work related stress? I have 3 questions I want you to contemplate.

1. How long do you spend travelling to and from work each day?  I have to admit, traffic drives me nuts.  Traffic Congestion for no apparent reason.  Why?
2. How long do you take for lunch each day? Most people actually spend more time travelling to work each day than they take for lunch.  If you think that’s normal, what’s wrong with you?
3. How many hours do you work a week?  Is the good ole’ 38 hour a week non-existent for you?  Are you more like 45-50 hours?  Do you realise this is between 7 to 12 hours of your personal life taken up doing a J.O.B.

Now I’m not suggesting you give up your day job, but here are a few quick tips on how to avoid stress at work:

1. If your driving everyday, catch public transport every once and a while or car pool with a couple of work friends. 
2. Take your full break for lunch.  Get away from your usual workspace. This will ensure you’re not sitting over your desk chewing away working.  Even better invest the time working on your social skills.  Another point, did you know when you take a break you become more effective and focussed? 
3. If you’re working more than 38 hours a week, find a way of cutting back.  Even if that means every second week.  Remember … We Work to Live, we don’t Live to Work.

This will ensure you reduce your Stress at Work and give you a more balanced and happy lifestyle.