Feeling stressed at work? Try something wild…

So many of the leaders and managers we work with here at Change & Transformation are dealing with workplace stress and a lack of work/life balance.  Read more here about how we have been using the outdoors to help us relax and stay focused.

Every day in June I did something ‘wild’. I’d signed up to the Wildlife Trusts #30dayswild campaign which nudged me to ‘make room ’in my life for nature – and then share what I did each day through social media. The campaign aimed to help people connect with the natural world around them since research repeatedly shows that spending time in ‘wild’ places can make you feel happier and healthier.

My enforced time in nature every day for 30 days felt like utter luxury (although I’m already an ardent lover of the outdoors), and was sometimes quite tricky to fit in around work – but I realised that just a few minutes of mindfulness outside, as a break from work, really did refresh and revitalise me and enabled me to focus and concentrate better. And I’m clearly not alone: in one of the studies in Healing Gardens, researchers found that two thirds of people would choose a natural setting to retreat to as their place of choice when stressed.

So many of the leaders and managers we’ve worked with at C&T are dealing with workplace stress and a lack of work/life balance. In fact, many of us spend so much time in a stressed state that we forget what it feels like to be fully relaxed, calm and alert – stress just feels ‘normal’.

Mindfulness is now becoming a much more established part of corporate life as a tool for managing stress at work with ‘biggies’ like Google investing heavily in mindfulness meditation training. But if you are after a quick fix, can I urge you to join me in some quick, accessible, immediate stress relief in the natural world.

Taste, Sound, Sight, Touch, Smell or Movement driven – which are you?

One of the fastest, most effective ways to de-stress to is focus and engage one or more of your senses in something – this will quickly calm and re-energise you. The key is finding what works best for you as we all respond to sensory input differently. I recommend experimenting with different methods and then test and practice your favourite de-stressors in low-level stress situations first.

Here’s my top 5 stress busters, my favourites from #30dayswild and other natural, quick fix, low cost de-stressors to try:

1. Lunchtime walk, (without phone), being mindful of my surroundings – just 15 mins, but the best payback in terms of energy levels, calm and focus for the afternoon.
2. Flowers from the garden on the table whilst I work – currently sweetpeas, the scent is amazing!
3. Eating lunch outside, a cuppa break outside or even meeting outside – made me relax, smile more and feel more creative.
4. Leaning out the window and listening to birdsong for 5 mins – great when too busy to get out. Research has shown even opening your office window can have a beneficial effect on stress and mood.
5. Stop work. Eat a bar of chocolate very slowly piece by piece.

For more information about campaigns from the Wildlife Trusts check out their website here; http://www.wildlifetrusts.org

What are your best tips for letting go?  Have you tried ours?  Let us know what you think.