4 Simple Ways to Reduce Stress at Work

April is Stress Awareness Month, which is very important to us here at Center Stage! Stress occurs for all of us in different areas of our lives. We’ve dedicated this post to ways to reduce the stress in your life!

1. Declutter:
One of the best ways to reduce stress is to declutter! Our external environment is a major factor in the way we feel internally. Removing any excess clutter helps your brain to function better. Keep only the necessary things visible. You can store, trash or donate the rest. This helps your thoughts flow authentically and easily. Less clutter means less distractions, ultimately leading to less stress. At Center Stage, we make sure to periodically organize the front desk throughout the day. Each worker has a designated bin for paperwork to help keep clutter low. We also carry this theory into our lesson rooms, making sure that every room is neat and is not consumed by unnecessary books/ instruments and other potentially distracting items.

2. Aromatherapy:
Another excellent way to reduce stress is through aromatherapy! Now-a-days essential oils are the new big thing and honestly, we can understand why. Different scents illicit different emotions or moods. Scents such as lavender and eucalyptus are the top ones used to induce relaxation. At Center Stage we make sure to change the scents of our wall plug-ins every season to make a pleasant environment for our workers as well as students. If essential oils are your jam, most can be used topically, as well as diffused throughout the room. However, we suggest that you do your research to make sure the essential oils you have can be used for both. Not all essential oils are high quality and some may irritate the skin if applied. If allowed in your workplace, you may also want to burn a candle, or use air fresheners for a similar effect.

3. Meditation:
Meditation is one of the top stress reducing activities anyone can partake in. It not only clears your mind, but a regular meditation practice can bring peace, clarity and ease to your life. However, many people don’t know how to meditate or feel that they aren’t doing it correctly. There is no right way to meditate! Every person resonates with something different and that is okay. There are so many different types of meditations such as moving meditations, yoga as meditation, Alexander Technique for musicians, guided meditations, silent meditations, mantra and/or sutra meditations, and the list continues to go on. The most important thing to remember when meditating is to be conscious of your breath. The breath is the link between body and spirit. Below is a short meditative practice. As you read through it, connect to your breath and notice any differences you may feel:

Begin to make yourself comfortable. You may choose to sit down, with your spine straight, or you may find more comfort in lying down. Whichever you choose, begin to make any adjustments so that your body is totally comfortable. Once you find comfort, begin to breathe deeply. A long slow inhale through your nose, followed by a long exhale through your mouth. Continue to breath and become aware of any tension you are carrying in your body. Every time you exhale, let the tension go. Inhale peace, exhale tension. Inhale love, exhale discomfort. Inhale calm, exhale stress. Continue breathing in and out. Let any thoughts that come up in your mind go with ease, knowing that this time is for you. Acknowledge your thoughts, and release them as you exhale. There will be plenty of time to get things done. You are in no rush. You can relax in this moment. Continue breathing. In through the nose, and out through the mouth. Continuing to bring peace into your body and releasing any stress or tension you may be holding. Take a few more deep, cleansing breaths at your own pace. Whenever you are ready, you can clench your fists or begin to bring movement to your toes and fingers. This brings your awareness back into your body and back into the present moment. How do you feel? Are you more relaxed and more at peace?

4. Music:
Of course we have to touch on how relaxing music can be! The right music can change your mood entirely. Below are two playlists. The first playlist, A Time For Solitude, is featured in the Disconnect issue of Center Stage Magazine. It’s a great playlist for relaxing and reconnecting with yourself after a long day. The second playlist, Meditation Music, is a playlist we’ve created to assist in meditation and/or relaxation. Both playlists can be played directly from this post, or can be found by searching CenterStageMusicCenter on Spotify.