Office De-stressing: 8+ Ways to Relax at Work

6 PM. You leave the office feeling exhausted – office de-stressing becomes urgent even though you only work with Excel and attend meetings. Nothing special, just a normal day at the workplace.

The truth is that stress doesn't come from big events. It builds up through dozens of unread emails, unnecessary meetings, and the chair that's been hurting your back for 3 months with no replacement. By the weekend, you just want to lie still. Monday comes again, and the cycle continues.

The good news is you don't need to quit your job or spend 7 days in Bali to recover. Here are 9 ways to relax at work that any office worker can start today.

Office exhaustion isn't from big events—it builds up in small ways throughout your everyday routine.

1. Don't open your email as soon as you sit down

8:59 AM. You turn on your computer and immediately click on Gmail. Boom! 36 new emails. Your day is instantly controlled by other people's needs. This is when office de-stressing techniques need to be applied right away.

Small change, big impact:

• Spend exactly 5 minutes to "take control" of your new day
• Drink a glass of water (84% of office workers start their day slightly dehydrated)
• Check your calendar to get an overview of your workday
• Write down your 3 most important priorities for the day

Instead of starting your day feeling panicked, you'll work with a proactive and focused mindset.

2. Clean your desk at the end of each day

Don't misunderstand—nobody expects your desk to be as clean as an operating room. But a tidy workspace has a powerful psychological impact on your feelings of control and focus.

A 2-minute desk cleanup ritual: your yesterday-self's gift to your today-self for office de-stressing.

Try this 2-minute habit:

• Clear away all unnecessary papers
• Quickly wipe the desktop with a wet wipe (can be kept ready in your drawer)
• Organize cables, phone chargers, and other devices
• Leave a small note listing 3 priorities for tomorrow

One fact: physical clutter is directly proportional to mental clutter. Your brain constantly scans the environment around you, and each messy item is a signal of "unfinished business" causing hidden stress.

When you walk into the office the next morning with a clean desk, your mind will immediately feel relieved and ready. That's a gift your yesterday-self leaves for your today-self and a way to help with office de-stressing.

3. Adjust your sitting position sensibly

3 PM, and here's the truth: you've changed positions 16 times, your neck aches, your lower back is stiff. You blame work stress, but the main cause is actually your chair and improper sitting position. Office de-stressing must start with correct posture.

Your posture might be the real culprit behind work stress—simple adjustments can change everything.

Simple adjustments you can make:

• Position the screen at eye level – the top of the screen should be at eye level
• Make sure your forearms form a 90-degree angle when placed on the keyboard
• Use a back cushion if necessary
• Ensure your feet are fully in contact with the floor or a footrest

A simple but effective tip: follow the 20-20-20 rule. After every 20 minutes of screen work, spend 20 seconds looking at something about 20 feet (6 meters) away.

4. Limit social media to 2 specific time slots

You're working and your phone lights up: "@you were just tagged in a post." You check quickly, and 26 minutes later you're still scrolling through Instagram, your mind fluctuating between FOMO and anxiety about deadlines. This isn't random—it's intentional design.

Schedule just two 10-minute social media breaks daily to reclaim your focus and productivity.

Many studies on office de-stressing have shown that social media is the "number one enemy" of concentration.

Instead of trying to control it completely, apply a more practical method:

• Identify exactly two periods during the day to check social media (e.g., 12:30 and 17:30)
• Turn off all notifications during the rest of the day
• Set a 10-minute limit for each checking session
• Keep your phone in a drawer or bag during peak work hours

Knowing that you'll have specific times to update yourself will help reduce anxiety about missing out and allow your mind to focus completely on the current task.

5. Always have a water bottle nearby and sip regularly

4 PM and your head is aching. Instinct tells you: need caffeine. But looking down at your desk: your water bottle is still full from the morning. Harsh truth: you don't need coffee – you're dehydrated.

That afternoon headache? You don't need coffee—your full water bottle reveals the real problem.

In office de-stressing training, drinking water is always emphasized as a top priority. Staying hydrated is a simple but often overlooked secret to reducing workplace stress.

Simple strategy:

• Place a clear water bottle on your desk to easily track how much you've drunk
• Set a goal to finish at least 500ml before lunch and another 500ml in the afternoon
• Add a few slices of lemon, cucumber, or herbs for a light flavor
• Combine drinking water with other habits (e.g., after sending an important email or completing a task)

Many office workers often turn to coffee when feeling tired, while a large glass of water is usually a more effective solution.

6. Change small details at your desk every week

You've been sitting at the same desk, looking at the same wallpaper, with the same calendar for... 7 months. And you wonder why work feels boring? The brain needs novelty to maintain interest and alertness.

Combat workplace monotony with small weekly changes that refresh your mind and workspace.

Effective office de-stressing methods often start with creating freshness in your daily work environment.

Create a sense of newness with small changes:

• Change your computer wallpaper at the beginning of the week
• Place a small plant or fresh flowers on your desk
• Change the arrangement of items on your desk
• Update a personal photo or small calendar

These simple changes create new visual stimuli, helping keep your mind alert and reducing the feeling of monotony in daily work.

7. Create a "closing work" routine

6:05 PM. You've left the office, but in the car on the way home, your phone still constantly vibrates with work notifications. And your brain? Still processing the last email, tomorrow's meeting, and unfinished projects. Taking care of your mental health at work starts with creating a private space in a shared environment.

Create a clear 'work is done' signal for your brain with a simple 5-minute end-of-day ritual.

Create a clear end-of-workday ritual:

• Take 5 minutes to make a to-do list for tomorrow
• Close all applications and browser tabs related to work
• Turn off email and work message notifications on your phone
• Perform a symbolic action: clean your desk, shut down your computer, turn off the desk lamp

This ritual helps create a clear signal to your brain: work time is over, and it's time to switch to relaxation mode.

8. Schedule one fun thing each evening

Tuesday, 3:30 PM. Difficult project, difficult client, and 2 hours 30 minutes until the end of the day. You're sinking into a heavy feeling. But then you remember: today is the day you're going out to eat with your best friend after work. And suddenly, today becomes more bearable.

A planned evening treat turns tough workdays bearable—always have something to look forward to.

This is one of the simplest but most effective office de-stressing methods - always having something to look forward to.

Apply this principle by:

• Scheduling exactly one fun activity after work each day
• It doesn't need to be big: a nice cup of coffee, a favorite TV episode, a call to a loved one
• Put it in your calendar as an official appointment, don't cancel
• In stressful moments, remind yourself of this "bright spot"

Knowing there's something to look forward to at the end of the day creates motivation and helps maintain a positive mood, even on challenging workdays.

Conclusion: Office de-stressing starts with small daily habits

Remember: stress is not an inevitable part of modern office life. Taking care of your mental health at work is an ongoing process, not a one-time event. With the right habits, you can completely regain balance and joy in your daily work.

To support your stress-reduction journey, CHUS provides many practical products to help create a comfortable workspace and balance your mind. Visit CHUS today to explore the collection of office de-stressing products and begin your journey to improve mental health right at your workplace!