Five simple steps to take you away to your happy place

MANILA, Philippines – The Filipino worker leads a very busy and hectic lifestyle. Traffic jams, tight deadlines and demanding bosses are just a few of the things that we deal with on a daily basis. While it’s manageable on most days, occasionally it can result in mental and emotional stress.

There are times when we wish we could simply escape and break free from the work grind. We would give anything for a relaxing respite on the beach or take in the fresh air up a mountain hike. But then reality keeps up back on the ground, reminding us of our limited budgets and vacation leaves.

When physical escape isn’t possible, there are still ways to ease the tension from your day and embark on a journey that relaxes both mind and soul. Here are a few ways to achieve a brief reprieve from the daily grind.  

Go for a walk

While we may not always realize it, sitting at a desk for eight hours a day can take its toll. Bad posture, joint pain and low energy levels can all result from sitting for long periods of time. To cope with this, a good idea is to get up and go for a walk. Researchers at the University of Birmingham found that employees who took a stroll during their lunch hour were more enthusiastic and relaxed than those who remained sedentary. If there are parks near the office, take advantage and go for a quick stroll, or invite colleagues to walk to a nearby café for lunch instead of calling a delivery service. Going for a walk is a big stride towards improving the day. 

Listen to music

There’s something about tuning out and just plugging your earphones in for a music trip. We begin to relax, we start feeling calmer and slowly regain focus. Listening to music during the day is a great way to escape, even for a short while. Research shows that it can significantly reduce stress and anxiety. So when tensions rise after a long meeting or everybody’s feeling a bit on edge, plug in, tune out and travel to a different world while staying in the office.  

Meditate

Some are quick to dismiss meditation as some New Age mumbo-jumbo, but the fact that the age old-practice only has a growing number of supporters is a testament to its efficacy. Meditation is a practice rooted in clearing the mind and calming the spirit – something many of us could use often. Ideally, it would be nice to meditate in a natural setting, but it can be done in the workplace too. Simply close your eyes, breathe deeply and focus on clearing your mind for a few minutes. A study from the University of Washington found that employees that meditate exhibit better concentration, mood and memory compared to others. Try this practice too, even for just a few minutes each day, to get to your inner happy place. 

Do it with a smile

Filipinos have been known to smile and remain optimistic in the face of adversity. Indeed, studies have found that smiling can help you through a challenge. Research conducted at the University of Kansas found that smiling can lead to reduced stress levels. Participants in the study that smiled during the assigned tasks were less stressed than those with neutral facial expressions. While life may get tough sometimes, taking a moment to recall a fond memory and smile can put you in a better place. 

Take a Cappuccino break

The coffee break is perhaps the best part of a workday. The warm feeling, inviting aroma and delightful taste of a good cup of coffee does the trick for a particularly stressful day. It can be good for your mental health, too. According to a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine,drinking multiple cups of coffee in a day has been associated with a lowered risk of depression. Furthermore, another study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found that just sniffing coffee can activate genes in the brain that reduce stress.  So go ahead, have another cup. It’s okay to indulge once in a while.

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While the daily grind might get us down sometimes, taking a brief moment to escape helps us to relax and reminds us that there is so much more to life than work. Inner peace is just a few breaths, a few notes and possibly just a cup-of-cappuccino away if we face the day with a smile. – Rappler.com  

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NESCAFÉ Cappuccino shows us that taking a moment to go to your ‘happy place’ can be as simple as enjoying an indulgent cup of coffee and by facing your day with a smile. Directed by renowned cosplay photographer Jay Tablante, the beautiful art in the film was rendered with mesmerizing and artfully crafted cinemagraphs. The music features a fresh take on the Eraserheads classic “With A Smile” by The Voice contestant Moira Dela Torre.

Visit NESCAFÉ on Facebook and get taken away by this beautiful film. 

Young businesswoman on cellphone running while talking on cellphone, holding laptop, Asian man listen music with headphone, sitting on floor at home, Pretty lady working on her laptop while sitting in an armchair images from Shutterstock