Soothing Stress Relief for 
the Sedentary Office Worker

You wake in the morning feeling more tired than the day before - filled with dread for what the day may hold.  Reluctantly, you drag yourself out of bed.  

Looking at the clock, you realize you overslept and make a mad dash for the shower.  

Three outfits later, you still haven't found what you want to wear.  

Getting your favorite dress up over your hips was a challenge on its own, now the darn dress won’t zip.  “Aargh!  I knew I should have laid out my clothes from last night.”  Finally, you've found something that fits.  “This will have to do.” 

“No time for breakfast, I’ll just grab something on the way”.  Almost tripping on the fancy exercise equipment as you bolt for the door - can’t tell when last you used it. 

Hopping in your car, you brace for the traffic ahead.  Hoping and praying it's your lucky day. 

...and that's just the start of your day. 

The next 8 hours you are staring at a computer screen, clicking away and barely leaving your desk for tea or bathroom breaks, much less mental health breaks. 

Well then you are at the right place for stress relief tips for the sedentary office worker.

Who is a Sedentary Person?

A sedentary person is characterized as a person whose work or way of life consists of much sitting and little to no physical activity.  Often sitting or lying down while engaging in an activity like socializing, watching television, playing video games, reading, using a mobile phone or computer for much of the day.

Office workers spend an average of 7 hours a day sitting, for some, staring at a computer screen - hunched over, not stopping to drink enough water or take bathroom breaks, a hundred and one things floating in their brain.  Then they commute in their car or public transportation for 20 minutes to an hour, then sit in their favourite couch and watch television or their mobile devices until sleep comes calling.   An entire day primarily spent sitting, going through the motions, wound up by stress and little to no health-promoting physical activity.

Why Is Stress Relief  A Must For The Sedentary Person?

It is important that the sedentary person engages in regular stress relief activities. 

A sedentary work/life-style makes one more vulnerable to the negative effects of stress, such as:

• Increased blood pressure and heart rate, higher cholesterol, and risk of heart attack - heart disease and stroke cause 1 in 3 women’s deaths each year, killing approximately one woman every 80 seconds
• Mood issues, including anger and depression, anxiety, lack of energy, and sleep issues
• Increased fat storage, especially around the midsection, and disrupted hunger cues (not being able to tell if you are truly hungry or full) leading to overeating
• Aches and pains in the joints and muscles
• Reduced ability to fight and recover from illness due to lowered immunity
• Digestive issues including, stomach cramps, acid reflux, and nausea
• Low/No sex drive and absent or irregular menstrual cycles
• Lower bone density making you more at risk for broken bones
• Hair loss
• Acne and other skin problems

“Stress is the trash of modern life-we all generate it but if you don't dispose of it properly, it will pile up and overtake your life.” ~ Danzae Pace

Stress at home tends to spill over into the office, and stress at the office tends to spill over into the home. So it is crucial that stress relief activities are practiced both at home and on the job.  No matter how simple the activity might be, do not underestimate its effectiveness when done regularly.

“Stress is the trash of modern life-we all generate it but if you don't dispose of it properly, it will pile up and overtake your life.” ~ Danzae Pace