Simple stress-slayer exercises at work

Long hours and a heavy workload can cause stress specially if it's combined with household responsibilities. Looking after kids, taking care of aging parents, cleaning, fixing dinner, negotiating traffic during the daily commute, ever-increasing price-rise and other factors can put a lot of stress on one's mind. Not only can it lead to anxiety and depression but also obesity, accelerated aging, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, insomnia, anorexia or bulimia, and many other stress-induced psychological as well as physiological diseases or conditions.
Typically, stress symptoms include a pounding heart or palpitations, dry mouth, headaches, odd aches and pains, loss of hunger or irregular uncontrolled hunger pangs and loss of libido.
Thanks to the effect of a group of chemicals secreted from the brain in response to vigorous physical exercise - endorphins - nothing can beat regular exercise as a stress-busting technique.
They send our mind into a ‘high’. Endorphins have many beneficial effects on the body and mind of which one is a strong action to beat stress. Exercise is the best way to slay your stress, especially if you have a deskbound job.
Physical exercise also helps you get relief from muscular pains as exercise releases toxins accumulated in the body due to prolonged stress. Moreover, even a little exercise a day can improve your sleep quality which in turn reduces stress.
University of Bristol researchers found that employees who enjoyed a workout before going to work were better equipped to handle whatever the day threw at them. The research, published in the International Journal of Workplace Health Management, is the first of its kind to prove that exercise during work hours has mental, as well as physical benefits.
Take down 3 simple stress-slayer exercises that you can perform while at your workplace:
Stairs: Climbing stairs up and down for 7 minutes can reduce stress. The best time to perform stair work is right before your lunch or afternoon snack. If you are overweight, this exercise may not be for you.
Squats: Squats are simple. They can be performed in 8 sq ft space. The right way to perform squats is by sitting down bending your knees with your upper-body & lower back erect and standing back again. Inhale as you stand up, exhale as you sit. Perform 25 squats at a time; repeating it at least twice a day.
Raised-hand toe-touch: Stand erect with feet close together. Raise your hands straight above your head and arch back. Bend forward from your back making your palms touch your feet. Do not bend the knees. Slowly return to the starting position. Inhale as you arch the back and exhale when you reach out to your feet. Perform 30 - 50 counts.
Perform at least 2 out of these 3 stress-slayer exercises at work, whenever you get 5 minutes free time. Avoid exercising immediately after your meals - let an hour pass. These 3 simple exercises can keep you remarkably refreshed, energetic & stress-free!


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