Today’s fast-paced work-life can overwhelm anyone with strict deadlines, a pile of to-dos, and a flurry of schedules.

Before you bog down from stress and overwhelm, stop! Take a 5-minute breather to energize and get back to yourself.

Five-minute pauses sprinkled throughout the workday are all it takes to destress and get back your level of productivity. So, use your micro-breaks wisely by indulging in these simple activities.

Breathe Consciously

Intentional deep breathing is the fastest way to calm and soothe a stressed self in a “fight-or-flight” mood.

Inhale deeply for five counts and exhale for another five. Repeat this conscious breathing for five minutes.

You will soon notice that you have reset yourself sufficiently to face your tasks.

Write In Your Journal

Use your five-minute pause to write in your journal. Create brief entries such as highlights of your day, things to be grateful for, insights, and inspirations.

Writing in a journal equips you with a growth mindset, which helps you deal with the inevitable bumps and high-pressure days of daily life.

Meditate

Indulging in short meditations can help you feel refreshed and more positive. Apply conscious breathing to help you disconnect from frustration, fear, and the negative self-talk in your head.

The more you practice, the better you get at meditating.

Draw, Doodle, Scribble, Color

Distract yourself from worries by connecting with your creative side. Creating art allows you to focus attention on something calming and pleasurable.

So inject a little fun into your mini-breaks. Doodle, color, or scribble your way to a much better mood.

Read Mindfully

Reading refreshes the mind and educates. Read mindfully, though, because what you consume affects you.

Avoid reading pessimistic content, stories, or articles. Instead, use your time to absorb inspirational or constructive writing. Doing so will help you get into the right headspace.

Stretch It Out

Snap out of a low mood by physically distracting yourself. Stretching relieves tension in our bodies by working out the kinks. It also stabilizes our moods by increasing serotonin, the happy hormone for reducing stress. So, touch your toes, reach up…stretch for five minutes to get yourself back to an improved mood.

When the grind gets to you, break off by doing something else. Five minutes of rest or distraction can be all you need to get your second wind.

But be mindful of how you spend your five-minute pockets of time. Improve your mood considerably by making the most out of that short yet effective break.

Photo Credit: Neeshadewa