5 Ways To Recharge and Relax in Your Workplace

In an age where it’s become the norm to sit at one’s desk for lunch, it may be rough for modern, career-charged go-getters to balance their work commitments with their own need to recharge. While newer advice suggests we take time away from our desks for a proper meal, old habits die hard. For many, it’s still difficult to ignore the siren’s call of work tasks during lunch—even if your managers tell you to. 

In the interest of easing into new habits, I have developed some ideas for bringing a more relaxed feeling to your desk…at least until you feel comfortable leaving it on a regular basis. This list includes a few things you can do to mimic the relaxation you’d experience at home, all while staying right at your desk. 

Be smart about what you eat. Just eating something home-cooked does wonders for my mood and outlook. The familiar sights, smell, and tastes are enough to give me the short reprieve I need. It helps me make the meal feel more like “my time.” If I think back to actually preparing the food or compliments I’ve received on it, even better. 

Try it for a week or two. You’ll see the difference that eating your familiar home-cooked meals (whether you made them or someone else did) have over the rushed orders from the local takeout place. 

Make your surroundings more “home-y." If you’re one to use cloth napkins or fancy placemats at home, bring them to the office! These familiar items can serve to calibrate the time so it’s carved out as your time.  When you’ve got your placemat and napkins out, view them as symbols of “home,” and use them as such! I’ve even found using “real” silverware helps change my mindset and I stop thinking of lunch as a meal I must rush through. 

Set the tone with music. Music or ambient sounds are always great ways to recharge. If you must continue working while you’re listening, try using lyric-free music for best productivity. Even better—pick a 3-5 minute track and grant yourself that time solely for daydreaming, or even thinking through a problem. For those in open-concept offices, use headphones so you don’t disturb your coworkers. 

Add a tasteful decoration or two to your workspace. Don’t deck out your whole office, but a knick-knack or two that reminds you of home can change the look and “feel” of your office space. You can also bring in a small photo of family members or a framed inspirational saying. 

Add your own personal flair. I feel luxurious and inspired when I use a notebook with beautiful, high-quality paper, a great print on the cover, or an inspired saying or two. I always use printed notebooks and colorful file folders. There is just something about it that really adds personality to the workplace! When you customize your work space and use office supplies that show your personal flair, it helps you feel more “at home” at the office. Let your personality shine! 

--Victoria Crispo, Dec 2014 Career Coach