
Whether you work from home or at the office, here are some simple tweaks you can make to improve your stress levels at work and increase your overall wellbeing.

Arrive with Intention. Commuting to work can be really stressful, and a lot can happen in a morning at home, so taking 2 minutes to separate your workday from other life "stuff" can help settle your nervous system before beginning a new task. Next time you arrive at work, intentionally ground your feet on the floor, close your eyes, and focus on your breath. Giving yourself these times of space throughout the day will help you feel calmer and more abundant!
Think Green. Place a green plant near your computer screen. Every so often, look over and focus on your green, living plant. The eyes are the orifice of the Liver, which is associated with the wood element, the color green, and is injured by stress and a sedentary lifestyle. Placing a live, green plant near your workspace will decrease eye strain and benefit your Liver energy.

Treat Yourself. Bring a bouquet of fresh flowers to work. Live flowers are full of life force, or Qi. With their abundant energy, they can send a signal to your body that it should work to be vibrant as well.
Give Yourself a Mini-Massage. If your eyes feel tired or you get a headache, massage the inner canthus of your eye, the tiny "ball" where your eye meets your nose. This point is the beginning of the Bladder channel, which runs all the way down your back to the tip of your baby toe, and contains points that nourish each of your internal organs.
Eat. Take an actual lunch break. Put away your phone, find a quiet spot, maybe even go sit in the sun! While you eat, try not to think about anything except your food and its' flavors. This will encourage your body to process the food efficiently and absorb every available nutrient from it. You may notice that you don't actually like the food you've chosen, which is a good sign that it's not right for you, and you may need to re-evaluate your lunch choices. I recommend warm soups--they are great to make ahead and bring to work, they are easy for your body to digest.

Schedule an after-work acupuncture session! If work and life stress have really been affecting you lately, your health could really suffer. Sometimes it's really difficult to manage stress without a little assistance. Acupuncture is an amazing way to help your body deal with stress, because unlike with meditation, you don't have to do any work---the needles turn off your "fight-or-flight" nervous system and allow your body to heal itself. (That's why I recommend going after work, not on your lunch break; you want to be able to relax after your treatment!)

Hi, I'm Lorrie, licensed acupuncturist and Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner in Fort Collins, Colorado. I have been working with clients like you for years, helping them manage their stressful lifestyles and improve their wellbeing. I hope some of these tips work for you, and if you're curious about acupuncture, please reach out! I offer free consultations to first-time clients, which you can schedule here on my website, or by giving me a call/text at 970-344-8145. Happy Healing!
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