Bob Martel
March 23, 2020
Central Mass. HEALTH - Spring 2020
Relaxation at work? It’s essential!
By Bob Martel
Imagine you. More relaxed at work. More likeable. More effective. More productive. Happier. All possible when you embrace the notion of relaxing while doing your job. After all, if the military teaches relaxation, and if athletes and students use it to excel, why not business professionals?
Wouldn’t it be nice to wave a magic wand and have all of that troublesome workplace anxiety just disappear? Phone apps and employee safe spaces may be the trend in some businesses but, for the most part, we forget we have at our fingertips a range of tools to help us stay calm, relaxed and in control. No batteries or Internet connection required. Yes, the answer lies within us, if we’ll only allow ourselves to go there.
Who says you can’t or shouldn’t relax on the job? It’s a skill and a strategy making the day more productive and tolerable as well provide a timely recharge or fresh perspective on a career choice that you may find temporarily less than fully rewarding. You may soon discover, if you’ll allow, relaxation is a choice, which can help you actually enjoy your commute, like your boss, and be a stronger middle manager or supervisor.
Smart leaders know how to help others relax into their job, too. It’s called leading by example and any executive not able to be calm and relaxed in the office is selling their company short.
So, now it’s your turn to start relaxing on the job and take charge of what you can, so you go home happier each day, maybe even enjoying that ride! New job responsibilities, big projects on your plate, or the all-too-common stressor (the boss) cause you to seek relief. Why not choose to relax and be the coolest cucumber in the salad?
The key lies in learning how to intentionally and voluntarily activate your relaxation response, as Dr. Herbert Benson reveals in the classic: “The Relaxation Response.” Relaxation is always a choice and influences the quality of our response to the stresses work and life present to us. Making this choice for yourself will reduce burnout, reduce short-term disability, and lower your blood pressure. Think about someone you admire who is always calm and collected, even under obvious stress. Ask them how they have trained themselves to relax while working.
Here are a few tips for fast progress:
Relaxing on the job begins the night before and continues before leaving for the proverbial office. Learning how to naturally manage stress and anxiety helps ensure a good night’s sleep and prepares the mind and body for the next day. Consider getting up 15 minutes earlier to smell the roses or count your blessings. Decide to put yourself in a relaxation mindset. Eat a healthy breakfast – at home! America does not run on coffee from a certain donut shop. Commit to your change.
Learn to relax during your commute and arrive relaxed. No need for a hypnotic trance behind the wheel, but you can use the time to both stay alert and relax. Your fellow commuters will welcome your road courtesy and any symptoms of road rage just fade away.
Breathe. Oxygenate blood and feed your cells. Concentrate on your comforting, full-belly breath. Anchor this feeling. Add progressive muscle relaxation to your new skill set. Relaxation heals the mind and the body.
Your intention about relaxing on the job is silently influenced by your belief system. I once had a hypnotherapy client (Type-A personality) who said, “relaxation is such a waste of time. Who even has the time?” On the other side of three sessions, she had discovered a new tool to help her enjoy her whole day more fully. What are your beliefs about mindfully relaxing?
Focus more on what you want. Start will uncluttering your work environment. According to a study by the Princeton University Neuroscience Institute, physical clutter negatively affects your ability to focus and process information. Your brain cannot operate at its potential because the clutter competes for your attention.
Take back control of what you can… including your email inbox, your projects, your relationships at work, your career opportunities and growth, and your state of mind. Emotional maturity, especially at work, leads to increased happiness, job satisfaction, and career opportunities. One thing you can control is your food and drink choices.
Take breaks throughout the day, even at your desk, in your (parked) work vehicle, and especially before an important meeting or presentation. Sitting is the new smoking. Decide to break your sitting habit and simply stand more often.
Examine how you manage yourself through time. Keep your job in perspective. Do the important things. Minimize distractions. Mentally rehearse and visualize a relaxed response and laugh a bit more. Enjoy your colleagues and be grateful.
Remember to connect with your authentic self. Be yourself, while challenging yourself to growth goals. Relaxation strengthens the immune system, and helps you be a more creative, more collaborative employee, not to mention the charisma you’ll exhibit.
Bob Martel is board-certified hypnotist at Positive Results Hypnosis in Holden, where he uses tai chi principles to help clients learn to relax. Reach him at bob@bobmartel.com.
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