Do you often feel like you’re in a perennial state of anxiety, such that your body’s ready to give up on you? Do you usually stare blankly at the computer screen for a long time, not knowing how to approach your workday’s many demands? Stop. Massage can help.
You’re not alone. So many people nowadays complain that they’re stretched to the brink because of all their responsibilities, and further aggravating the situation is how the body naturally reacts to stress.
What happens to your body when you’re stressed
When frazzled and anxious over something, your body pumps out stress hormones: cortisol and adrenaline. High cortisol levels cause blood to go directly to body parts that control the fight-or-flight response and prevent vital nutrients from going where needed. This leads to back pains, headaches, difficulty in sleeping, weariness, and even weight gain.
Massage therapy at work: Less stressed at work? What can you do?
The most effective solution to stress may be eliminating stressors, but everybody knows that’s often impossible (like how do you get rid of a grumpy, demanding boss?). There are, however, ways of managing stress.
1. Understand how the body naturally functions. This alone can help reduce the stress on your brain and the rest of your faculties and improve how you deal with stress.
Standing Desk
Do you know that the body functions optimally when standing and moving? Therefore, if you wish to reduce the stress of your job by having your brain clear and wholly focused on the task you need to do, stand as you work—especially when you need to type away on the computer. Use a standing desk. When you do so, you will notice that energy flows much better when you’re standing because the blood that carries oxygen and other crucial nutrients reaches its intended destination.
When you’re done with demanding brain activity, sit down—or better yet, recline completely, and your body will automatically relax. Your brain will “slow down”, and you’ll fall asleep soon. A short nap will do wonders in reducing stress hormone levels.
2. Stretch. This will aid circulation and keep you awake. Once you stretch, all those tensed muscles on your neck, back, and legs will be eased. Stretching will also get rid of nervous energy and have a soothing effect.
3. Eat better. When you’re healthier, you can manage stress better because more nutrients are working to fuel your body for the work you need to do. If you’re under a lot of stress, wellness experts advise treating yourself to the following stress- and pain-busting foods:
- Salmon—Research shows that this fatty fish is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which can help reverse stress symptoms by increasing serotonin levels. If salmon is too expensive, tuna is a good enough alternative. Prepare your work meals and avoid junk food.
- Walnuts – Snacking on these during your break time instead of sweets and other junk food will do wonders for your blood pressure, which may already be high due to working too much. You can consume 1.5 ounces a day for good health.
- Oatmeal is good for the heart and helps the body produce serotonin, which fights the adverse effects of stress. Eating oatmeal will also prevent you from bingeing.
- Warm skim milk—This has a calming effect and can even reduce stress-related PMS symptoms, such as abdominal and lower back pain and joint soreness.
4. Meditate – Take time out of your busy schedule to “retreat.” Invoke the power of the mind to take you away from your stressful situation at work. For at least 10 minutes, let your mind wander to a calm place. Sit straight, inhale and exhale—let this be your body’s rhythm.
5. Sign up for massage therapy at work and let some strategic kneading undo all those tension knots that cause pain on your day off or after a hectic workday. London therapists say deep tissue massage, in particular, has many health benefits for people whose bodies are constantly overworked, such as athletes.
- It can improve blood circulation.
- It promotes faster healing of damaged tissues.
- It encourages the release of endorphins (happy hormones) that can boost the immune system (so you can effectively ward off common ailments like cough, colds, flu, et cetera) and inhibit pain signals from reaching the brain.
- It can also pump your body with norepinephrine, a hormone that helps with anxiety management.
- It can improve your body’s flexibility and increase your body’s range of comfortable movements.
- Most especially, massage therapy forces people to focus on the moment and their well-being. It’s their “me” time. If you get a massage, this relatively short moment will leave you feeling completely reinvigorated, energised, and more relaxed.
The stress you frequently experience at work should not be disregarded. Chronic pressure can take its toll on your health. When you’re stressed, remember these solutions—try one or combine them all—so you can keep up your good work performance.
