Priorities at work and home pack our schedules. From the moment we wake up until we go to sleep, we slip into a routine of finishing to-do lists without paying attention to our well-being. Though it’s easy to wait until a spa day to take care of your needs, you can reboot your brain, become more productive, and decrease stress at any time. Here are 3 ways to recharge your energy in five minutes.
Tap Into Mindfulness
From transmitting impulses throughout our bodies for movement to executing snap decisions, we count on our brains to do all of the heavy lifting for us. As the ultimate power center that keeps you on the go, it deserves time to rest and rejuvenate. Mindfulness helps you tap into the present moment to cleanse your mind, unwind, and connect with the world around you.
Meditation is the simple act of clearing your mind of thoughts. To start, set a five-minute timer, so you are free from distractions. Close your eyes and let your thoughts drift naturally. Don’t hold onto any particular notion; allow it to flow as you connect with your breath at a steady rate.
Meditating, even for a short period, is great practice for strengthening your mindfulness muscles. Similar activities also include simple stretching exercises, beginner’s yoga, and journaling.
Unplug From Gadgets
Do you compulsively reach for your smartphone when you have spare time? Engaging with social media helps us stay connected to the world, but browsing apps all the time can gradually develop an addiction to technology. Every so often we overlook the warning signs of spending too much time online which includes: overloading your mind with information, exacerbating attention disorders, and weakening concentration.
Instead of diving into apps or bouncing from one website to another, temporarily ban yourself from electronic devices such as social media, email, texting, and calls. Pause from catching up with the rest of the world, and let yourself enjoy life offline by reading a book, connecting with your breath, or daydreaming.
Take A Quick Walk
When you are working, especially at a job where you look at electronic devices all day, you’re secured into a sitting position for several hours at a time. Our bodies designed for intermittent movement throughout the day, and looking at the same workspace for extended periods weakens our eyesight, creates headaches, and induces fatigue.
Taking a walk outside offers a fresh opportunity to absorb different surroundings. Removing yourself temporarily from work to stroll around the building or outside to a park bench can spark ideas about the projects you’re working on. A change of visual and physical space will also allow your eyes to refresh after staring at a screen, keep your mind healthy, and reignite the energy you need to keep going.
