Work can be hugely stressful, with commuting, working overtime and getting splashed by cars. But is there any way we can make our lives a little easier? Here I want to share with you my 4 tips to stomp out workweek stress.
Prepare Meals in Advance
One of the worst things to have to do when you’ve had a long day in work is decide what to eat for dinner. And sometimes because you don’t have the time or the energy, you end up having to settle for something far from healthy or nutritious. Meal Prep is something a lot of people are talking about these days, but where do you start?
Pick a meat, or two meats which you want to be eating throughout the week. Remember, you don’t need to eat meat every day. This not only can cause digestive problems but it’s really expensive too.
The basic meal setup you want is this:
It’s easy to make up a big bowl of salad (only dry ingredients, no dressing) and leave it in the fridge for 3 days- this way you can just add it onto your plate every evening as a side dish.
Great examples of carbohydrates could be something like spicy Couscous or Lime and Coriander Rice.
Try investing in some freezer safe tubs and making large batches of things such as Bolognese, chilli and pasta bakes. This will save a huge amount of time with prep, as you’ll only need to defrost the meal the night before and re-heat it.
Get up 10 Minutes Earlier
You may be thinking ‘but I need that extra 10 minutes!’ Trust me, waking up a little bit earlier will help you to start your day in a much better mood. One of the horrible things about work is waking up early and rushing to get ready and out of the door. Setting your alarm just 10 minutes earlier gives you a little extra time to wipe the sleep from your eyes and stretch your muscles. Doing this will help you to feel more awake and set you up for a better day. I promise!
Have some ‘me’ time
Running around at 100mph for 5 days a week can be very draining. And sometimes all we need is an hour, a good book and a glass of wine. It’s so important to give yourself a little bit of time alone each week, as it helps you to recharge and reset. Partners, family and friends of course are so important and provide great respite from the working world, but sometimes you need a little time alone with your thoughts.
If you don’t feel like you have a huge amount of time to do this, don’t worry. Take 10 minutes extra in the shower; go for a longer walk at lunchtime; or simply sit in the garden after you’ve eaten your dinner. Any amount of time you can take for yourself is important, no matter how small.
Have something to look forward to
It’s a horrible feeling when you are at work and you know that your next day off is months away and the weekend seems like a distant memory. But don’t fret, you can still have something to get you through that tough week. It doesn’t have to be something big, it could be that you are going out for a meal with your other half; you’re seeing some family or even going for a picnic. It’s the little things in life that can really change the way you feel. And having something either at the weekend or in the evening can lift your mood and reduce stress levels a huge amount.
It’s the little things that make such a difference, something as simple as having an hour to yourself and having something to look forward to really help.
exactly!