There are always days when we feel stressed at work. It can be caused by any number of factors – perhaps a big project deadline is looming, things aren’t going smoothly for you at work or home, or maybe you’re just not feeling well that day. Whatever the reason, stress in the workplace is no fun and generally makes things feel much worse. Here are a few tips on lessening the mental load on tough days:

Go for a walk
Getting up from your desk or station and going for a quick, relaxing walk can do wonders for your state of mind. Providing you aren’t involved in any urgent tasks, it’s usually perfectly fine to take a short break. Aside from the chance to take in some fresh air – possibly a welcome change from the closed office – it also has health benefits. A short walk will get your circulation going so you can think a bit more clearly, and wake you up if you’re feeling a bit low. The walk will give you a little time away from the world too, which can sometimes be all you need to de-stress.

Change locations
Often, staying in the one spot and staring at the same scene can make it easier to slip into stressful thinking. Break up the repetition of the day by changing locations, if you’re able. Halting the monotony of the daily routine might help break you out of your own head and stop the stress swimming around in circles.

Work on a different task
If a particular task at work is causing you stress, it can always help to step away from it for a little while. If you allow yourself to work on something else temporarily, you can avoid getting too frustrated. Moving to an unrelated task lets you keep being productive, and you may even think up the perfect solution in the meantime. This also keeps your work day varied and your mind active.

Grab a drink of water
One of the simplest things you can do to help keep down stress levels is go and grab a drink of water. This one gets you away from your desk, cools you down, and can prevent you from getting dehydrated and feeling even worse. If you have a headache during the day – caused by stress or not – then getting some water is a good start.

Breathe
While it might sound silly, it can be worthwhile taking a few minutes to just sit quietly and focus on your breathing. If you’re getting stressed because there is too much running through your mind at once, stopping to calm down and breathe can be a great release of mental tension. Taking five minutes now can help you to work better and happier through the rest of the day.

These are just a few things you can do if the work day is becoming overwhelming. It’s always important to keep yourself happy and healthy at work, and if you’re not feeling stressed then it’s a good deal for you and your employer.

Further related articles:

• Recruitment managers must spot signs of employee stress during recession
• Stressed workers will cost you
• Fit, healthy and happy: Corporate wellness programs