10 Relaxation Hacks to Reduce Stress at Work

Any workplace can be stressful, and sales is certainly no exception. But no matter what kind of work environment you’re in, you should have a plan to relax and combat stress when the need arises. This helps you have a more productive career, a healthier life, and a way to remain your best self.

To help you with that, here are ten relaxation hacks that will help you lower your work stress levels. They include proactive habits to help you avoid stress, as well as activities you can do to relax and refresh when you're under pressure.

1. Develop Routines to Save Time

It's much easier to get into "work mode" when you have a routine specifically designed for that. So try to design your day, or your week around a plan. You'll not only be more productive, you'll spend far less time worrying about what to do next.

Automating repetitive tasks can make your workplace routines more efficient, which saves you time and gives you breathing room. If your job involves making phone calls, for example, then PhoneBurner’s workflow automations can turn tedious post-call activities like sending follow-up emails or text messages into a snap.

2. Take Some Personal Time

For the most part, when you're at work, you should be working. But there's a reason breaks exist—and if you used the last step to boost your productivity, it’s okay to use some of the time you’re saving to take care of your personal needs.

Research recently found that while breaks don't directly increase productivity, they do improve many other outcomes such as higher job satisfaction and reduced burnout. That's a win for both you and your boss.

The effects are enhanced when you're doing something you enjoy (ie. pursuing an interest rather than scrolling through your social media feeds).

So make sure you set aside personal time throughout the day when you disconnect from everything, even if this is only 10 to 15 minutes at a time.

3. Do Breathing Exercises

There's nothing like deep breathing to let go of everything that has been stressing you out. That's especially true when you consider that anxiety often results in shallow breathing.

In as little as a minute, a simple breathing exercise can return your body to a state of calm, making you feel lighter and happier.

Here's a quick and easy one:

• Start with a deep breath.
• As you exhale slowly, think about the weight of your body settling into your chair.
• Take another deep breath, then return your breath to normal.
• Focus on each inhale saying "in" and each exhale saying "out."
• If your mind wanders, just bring it back to the breath.

4. Set Priorities

We all know the feeling of having several balls in the air at once.

Trying to handle everything at once not only contributes to stress, it spreads us thin and results in shoddy work.

That's why we prioritize. Figure out what really requires your attention, and what can wait. Then tackle tasks one at a time.

There is also evidence that “eating the frog,” - AKA doing your hardest/most important tasks first thing in the morning - reduces stress levels for the rest of the day.

5. Delegate

This goes hand in hand with prioritizing.

Sometimes we find items on our to-do list that shouldn't be there at all. If you find yourself bogged down with tasks that keep you from your highest-value work, see if you (or your supervisor) can delegate them to someone more equipped to handle them.

Using the right tools to manage your team is the key to delegating successfully. For example, PhoneBurner helps sales managers create and share content like call scripts, follow-up email templates, dialer configurations, and more across entire teams so that everyone is working from the same playbook.

Learn More: PhoneBurner is Great for Teams: Group Accounts

6. Keep Stress & Adversity in Perspective

When things go awry, it's easy to get frazzled and annoyed.

But here's the thing...

Adversity is a part of life (and work). The measure of success is not in your ability to avoid adversity, but rather to react well to it.

With that perspective, you're more likely to overcome stressful situations than let them get the best of you.

7. Give Yourself Things To Look Forward To

A life that revolves entirely around work won't keep you very satisfied.

Whether it's a vacation at the end of the month, a date night, or just spending an evening watching Netflix, make sure there's always something you're looking forward to doing.

8. Spark Creativity

Using the creative side of your brain is an underappreciated relaxation method.

So make time for creative projects, and utilize breaks for things that inspire you such as writing, drawing, painting, or playing music.

‍

9. Take Care of Your Body

Physical activity is a secret weapon to many for combating stress.

Even if you're not hitting the gym every day, you can still take a brisk walk or do some stretching on a break. Or consider a pre-work jog or yoga session... to set yourself up for a day of calm and mental clarity.

Sleep matters too—you can’t relax or focus if you aren’t well rested. Learn more by reading The Salesperson's Guide to a Healthy Sleep Routine.

10. Put Your Headphones On

Music can put people in all kinds of different moods, making it a useful tool for relaxing.

If you're getting worn out, play some of your favorite songs and you should start feeling better.

Or for a more proactive solution, you can try classical music, white noise, or nature sounds while you work. Unlike your favorite artist, these are less likely to compete for your attention, and can help you stay calm and focused.

Over to You

Knowing how to relax, even during the most pressure-packed moments, will do wonders for your performance and your health. Use the strategies outlined above to reduce the stress you experience so you can stay happy and successful.

And remember—the right tools go a long way towards reducing stress at work. If you’re in sales, try PhoneBurner’s free trial and see how our power dialer can help you talk with up to 4x as many prospects without sacrificing call quality.