EAT, DRINK, AND BE CALM What we put in our bodies is essential, just like what we surround our bodies with. Eating well is a piece of the puzzle when it comes to mindfulness and reducing stress. • Brain Foods – Certain foods help improve our mental processes by nourishing our bodies with compounds our brains need to function their best. Some common foods in this category are salmon, tuna, eggs, nuts, berries, and leafy greens. • Relaxing Teas 101 – Drinking tea is a great way to destress at home. Certain teas can have benefits like improving digestion (mint teas), overall calming effects (chamomile), and energizing properties (matcha). In addition to these, the ritual of making tea can be a positive element to add to your self-care routine. • Foods to Relax – Some foods can even help you unwind by increasing levels of certain hormones or compounds that help with relaxation. If you’re looking to zen out with a snack, try these: dark chocolate, fish, avocado, whole grain bread, nuts, or citrus fruit. • Foods to Avoid – Just like some food can have positive benefits, and other foods are detrimental to us. When you focus on bringing down your stress levels, avoid foods containing sugar, pro- cessed carbohydrates, alcohol, and caffeine.
HOW TO RELAX WHILE WORKING FROM HOME Working from home might seem like the dream, but once you’ve been doing it for a while, you’ll find it has its pitfalls. Part of reducing your stress at home if you also work from home is knowing how to create a healthy workplace. • Stretch – Most of us unconsciously tense dif - ferent muscles when we sit in one position for too long, and repeatedly doing this for days at a time can wreak havoc on our bodies. You don’t have to roll out the yoga mat and change into tights mid-workday to make a difference, though! Find stretches that target your chest, hip flexors, and hamstrings. Hold each for 30 seconds and pick one to do each time you fill up for coffee or use the restroom. Just one minute extra a few times a day, and your body will thank you. • Breathe – Taking deep breaths releases tension and brings awareness to where we might be clenching muscles without knowing it. On top of that, it increases oxygen to your brain and helps you to focus and be more alert. • Take Breaks – When you’re working from home, it can be easy to let the day fly right by without taking any breaks. If you find that this happens to you, try setting your phone timer once an hour to remind you to stand up and
take a quick break (and maybe a few quick deep breaths and stretch). • Make A Dedicated Workspace – If you haven’t already done this, do yourself a favor and make it a priority. Your workspace is where you spend so much of your time that if it isn’t esthetically calming, you’re not doing your best work or being as healthy as you can. It doesn’t have to be elaborate – invest in some visually pleasing desktop organizers, add a potted plant, candle, and a decorative piece, and your state of mind will thank you! EXERCISE AND RELAXATION There’s a reason why you’ve heard your whole life that regular exercise is part of healthy living – it’s true! For many of us, though, exercise is the thing that is the easiest to get out of the habit of doing and the hardest to get back into. Tips for creating your exercise routine: • Make yourself achievable goals and stretch goals. Whatever that looks like for you set targets that you can achieve and goals you’re working towards. It’s good to chal- lenge yourself, but if you don’t feel a sense of accomplishment because you’re never getting to your target, you’re more likely to give up.
107 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE
106 SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022
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