Stress Busters for Busy Business People

Keeping Physically and Mentally Fit While Running Business

When someone works from home or runs a small business outside the home, there can be a lot of stressful situations to deal with. Unfortunately, the things that get pushed aside to be dealt with another day are usually the very things that can help business owners handle all of these stressful situations.

Make an Appointment for a Stress Relieving Activity

It can be much too easy to skip a round of golf, a bike ride, or an hour at the gym when problems are piling up. Setting an appointment for an activity that promotes mental and physical wellness reminds a business owner that his or her health is just as important as the health of the business. Since a part of the day is already set aside for this activity on the calendar, it is also easier to tell potential clients, vendors, or business contacts that that particular spot is already booked, but that there is an opening the next day at two o'clock.

Set Up an Exercise or Relaxation Area in the Office

Ideally, every business owner should get up, walk out the office door and go somewhere completely unrelated to work for an hour or so each day. However, if he or she knows that this is never realistically going to happen, a small business owner can set up a stress buster station right in the office.

While it can be tough to squeeze an entire gym into many offices, the invention of the Wii has made the dream of a space saving exercise area into a reality for more than one business. Games like golf and bowling can be played very realistically without any additional equipment or the business owner can add a Wii Fit to the system and track increased physical fitness and weight loss.

For those people who enjoy relaxing with a good cup of tea and a soothing fountain, a folding tray, a small fountain and a beautiful Japanese tea set will create a simple tea ceremony corner and can be quickly tucked into a cupboard before a business meeting.

Learn Quick Relaxation Techniques

For business owners with skyrocketing blood pressure, quick relaxation techniques aren't just a nice idea. They are essential. Talk to a specialist about ways to stay calm and release toxic stress. A few quick ideas include:

• Use stress balls. There's a reason these little things are so popular.
• Buy darts and a dart board or a basketball hoop and a soft basketball.
• Think about reflexology. Reflexologists say that applying pressure to certain points can reduce stress.
• Take deep breaths. Get oxygen flowing and release tension by sitting up straight, breathing in and then slowly breathing back out.
• Invest in a massage chair. A good massage can release physical tension and alleviate stress.