15 Ways to Reduce Your Stress in 10 Minutes or Less

Running your own business is fun, exciting, challenging, and rewarding - but it’s also stressful. There isn’t a small business owner who wouldn’t agree that demanding clients, employees who aren’t performing up to par, complaining customers, meetings, deadlines, late suppliers, office equipment that breaks down when you need it most, crashing computers, delivery problems, etc. doesn’t leave them tearing their hair out sometimes. So many things are beyond your control, and when the buck stops with you, there’s no one else who can take the heat. In the middle of a busy, stressful day, when your frustration is at boiling point and you can’t get away for a round of golf or an hour-long massage, consider using some of the following quick stress relievers. You can build them into your normal routine and they take only ten minutes or less. Ten minutes of concentrated stress relief can make the difference between leaving the office with a sense of calm, or heading home and feeling that there’s a bomb inside of you that could go off at any moment. The next time you’re stressed out, try any, or all of these.

Eat breakfast – it’s a fact that people who eat a good breakfast, including whole grains and protein, get a stronger start to their day, have more energy and manage stress better.

Breathe deeply – take a few minutes to look away from your computer, or that report you’ve been reading for two hours, and look out the window. Force yourself to breathe deeply and slow your breathing down.

Assign a number to your stress – if specific things are stressing you out, rate them from 1-10. If you can see how much stress a specific issue is causing, you might be able to put it to the top of your priority list, deal with it and get it out of the way.

Relax your body – if you’re the type of person who clenches their jaw, or grinds their teeth, or if your shoulders bunch up when you’re stressed, become aware of your body and deliberately relax those parts that are tightening with the stress.

Switch to decaf or herbal tea – when stress levels are high, caffeine contributes to heightening your physical and emotional responses. If you know you’ve got a particularly stressful day ahead, order decaf coffee in the morning, or make some herbal tea to calm you down in the afternoon.

Take a stretch break – you should do this several times a day. Just step away from your desk reach up toward the ceiling and hold a stretch. Move your body from side to side and hold your stretches for at least 20 seconds.

Listen to music – you don’t even need to have a stereo at your office – just plug in to a radio station on your computer that streams your style of music. Close your eyes, sit back and just listen.

Call, or Skype a friend – there’s nothing like having a chat with a good buddy. Even in the middle of a busy day you can take five or ten minutes to catch up with someone close. Make sure you pick a positive person who makes you laugh and feel good.

Go for a walk – around the block, in a park nearby, or even just around your building if you can’t get farther away. Moving your body and getting away from your desk is enough to reduce your stress.

Plan something fun – most of us do well when we have something to look forward to. If you’ve got a vacation coming up, spend a few minutes adding to your plans. If you don’t, plan a fun outing for you and a few friends. Positive anticipation is a great stress reliever.

Drink more water – most of us go through our days dehydrated. When our bodies get the water they need, we function better, we get less headaches, digest our food better, don’t overeat and just feel better. Shoot for those 8-10 glasses per day.

Take your lunch break away from your desk – if you’re the type who “works through lunch” everyday, you’re adding to your stress level. You need a mental break from your work environment regularly to be more productive. Eat your lunch on a park bench or in the staff room rather than at your desk.

Start a gratitude journal – when you’re feeling particularly stressed out, write down all the things you’re grateful for that day. It helps to put things into perspective.

Take a catnap – many people really benefit from 10-15-minute power naps during the day. If you’re one of those, close the door set a timer and snooze away.

Read something fun – especially if your job requires a lot of technical reading. Have a funny book nearby, or escape for ten minutes with a great novel.

No more excuses! Now you have 15 quick stress relievers that anyone can incorporate into their day. Try a few, or try them all! Relieve those stresses regularly and you’ll find your work (and the rest of your life) much more enjoyable!