Tips to lift your mood during those stressful times at work

A frustrated businessman feeling stressed and upset inside his office. | Courtesy of Getty Images via Unsplash

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Here are some tips for balancing work and personal life to be able to stay both happy and productive. It is all about keeping your mind and body in good shape while doing your best at work.

Dr. Anna Kathrina Oaminal-Watin, a local clinical psychologist, shared with CDN Digital some tips on how to lift up your mood when you feel stressed at work.

Vitality 

This means that the person has to move and not be stuck in one place sitting or standing for a long period of time.

Dr. Oaminal-Watin said that the person can take a stretch every two hours from their work, or take a walk during breaks. 

Talking with workmates 

The psychologist said that talking with workmates could also help lift one’s mood, especially during lunchtime or breaks.

Instead of discussing work, talking with the workmates about things that the person is excited about could be a good step in shifting away the stress from work.

“[These are] the things that you’re looking forward to like it can be a conversation about fashion, it can be your simple conversations about what you have ordered online. It doesn’t have to be grand but it has to be something that you can be excited about,” she said.

Bringing something that can perk up your mood

Moreover, she said that one can also bring something that can perk up his/her mood during work like a small potted plant (if that is allowed in the workplace) to add color to their day.

She said that it could also be a family picture, a photo of a person’s favorite place, or it can also be a photo set as a wallpaper on the laptop or phone which could bring inspiration to get through the day. 

More tips: Be grateful, count your blessings

Dr. Oaminal-Watin also offered more tips like recognizing the things that a person is thankful for about their work could also help lift their spirit when working.

“If you’re tired with work but you get to [remember], ‘Oh, it’s almost salary time, it’s almost bonus time,’ and the company has given you certain benefits like hospitalization benefits,” she said.

“But there is one technique that is being said by some philosophers. They said na ‘We can also try to have a time where we just don’t think about the things that we have, like the blessings that we have,’” she said.

She learned that people can also try to think, “What if you do not have the things that you have now?”

If instances come when the person thinks that she is getting tired of work, she could also ask herself, “What if I don’t have this work? Can I imagine the time that I’ve applied for this work? I was so excited when I was accepted.”

The clinical psychologist said that recognizing those little things and feeling grateful about them are simple tips that can bring a positive change in one’s mindset. 

Food or coffee break

If a cup of coffee during work can lift one’s mood, then they should get one. 

On top of that, she said that it is important for the person to remember about eating food during work hours.

“Food actually makes you feel good. It’s the pleasure of the body. You (with workmates) can talk about food. You can order. It doesn’t have to be expensive but it’s like creating routines like it’s a very good conversation piece,” she stated.    /rcg

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