Do you ever wonder why you feel tired after work even though all you did was sit at your desk? Truth is, even though you’re not moving your body, mentally concentrating on work all day can be very draining.
Want to stop feeling so exhausted at the end of the day? Then you could try taking several 5-minute breaks throughout the day and perform these desk-friendly activities to feel more refreshed. Here’s what we recommend:
1. Give yourself an earlobe massage
Massaging earlobes has been found to help stimulate nerve endings that will release endorphins (also known as feel-good hormones). Not only that, massaging your ears can also help to improve blood circulation, which is exactly what you need if you’ve been sitting at your desk all day.
So, the next time you feel like you’re mentally blocked and need a quick refresher, just form small circles with your thumb on your ears and proceed to gently pull and rub your ears.
2. Smell some relaxing essential oils
Another solution that you can try to awaken your senses on a tiring day is to smell some essential oils, particularly scents that are known to elevate your mood and promote relaxation. Essential oils are effective at triggering your brain’s limbic system (which controls your emotions). This is why your mood or feelings can change when you smell certain scents.
The best essential oil scents for relaxation are:
- Lavender
- Bergamot
- Lemon
- Ylang Ylang
- Chamomile
3. Grab a pick-me-up snack
Whenever you wish to refresh yourself, munching on snacks can provide a good outlet for you to take a breather and unwind mentally. Plus, studies have also shown that certain snacks can even help to elevate your mood and help to improve your focus. Some snacks you can try include herbal tea, yoghurt or citrus fruits like lemons and oranges.
If you’re looking for an easier snack to munch on during your breaks, why not check out this new snack called Kinder Tronky!
This newly released Kinder Tronky is the perfect pick-me-up snack when you’re looking for something yummy, easy and quick for your break!
What we love about Kinder Tronky is that not only is it delicious, but it is also very enjoyable to have as it combines multiple textures and tastes. Here’s what you can expect:
- The exterior of the snack comes with a light cocoa wafer that promises a satisfying crunch with every bite.
- Once you bite into the biscuit, you’ll taste the multi-layered filling – a harmonious blend of a rich, chocolate layer paired with a classic Kinder-style milky filling complete with crunchy biscuit crumbs.
If you’re a fan of Kinder’s snacks, then Kinder Tronky will surely become your new favourite. ?
Excited to try out the new Kinder Tronky? You’ll be glad to know that you can now grab them at all major retailers including supermarkets, convenience, grocery, and online stores. Kinder Tronky retails at RM2.36 for a single bar or you can get them in a box of five for RM11.55 to share with your loved ones.
Don’t forget to visit Kinder Malaysia’s website here or follow them on Facebook to get the latest updates.
4. Stretch to release tension
If you’re sitting at the desk all day, it’s very likely that your body can be strained due to the lack of movement, especially in the wrist, neck and lower back area. Thus, we’d recommend doing some desk-friendly stretches to quickly relieve the tension in your body which will help to make you feel more mentally refreshed and energised.
Here are some ‘deskercise’ routines you can try:
- Wrist stretch – Press your palms together in front of your chest for 15 seconds. Then, flip your hands and press the back of your hands together for 15 seconds. Repeat this five times for each side.
- Neck rolls – Lower your head to the front and start rotating your head slowly. Once you’ve made a full rotation, roll it the other way. Repeat the rotation five times for each side.
- Ragdoll – Sit on the edge of your seat and open your knees slightly. Gently fold your torso forward to the space between your legs and try to keep your back flat. Relax your head and sway it from side to side for five seconds before rolling your body back to an upright position.
5. Listen to your favourite songs
Studies have shown that listening to music can help to calm your nervous system and lower your cortisol levels (a stress hormone that usually increases when your body deals with stress) to make you feel more at ease.
The type of music you listen to can also have different effects on your body – upbeat songs can make you feel more optimistic while mellow music can help your body relax. If you’re dealing with a difficult task at work, take a break to unwind while you party (silently) to your favourite tracks.
While you’re at it, don’t forget to stock up on the Kinder Tronky so that you can have the perfect pick-me-up snack waiting for you at work and you can even share it with your colleagues! This way, everyone can take a break together to increase productivity at work.
See any activities you liked from our list? If you know of other ways to feel refreshed, share them with us in the comments section!
