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The One-Minute Vacation
Vacations are good for business. Research shows that when people
take time off to relax, they return to work refreshed and motivated.
But what if you need a vacation in the middle of the day? You
can’t just hop on a plane to the beach.
You can, however, take a mental break – a “one-minute
vacation” – that will help ease your stress and renew
your energy. Here are some examples:
• Take a breather. Close your eyes. Breathe slowly and
deeply 10 times, while picturing a calm scene in your mind.
• Move around. Get up and stretch. Walk vigorously around
the office, through the halls, or up and down stairs for one minute.
• Savor a snack. Pick a snack that you really enjoy. Don’t
just gobble it down. Eat slowly, savoring every bite. Even better,
share it with someone else, so that you can both savor it together.
(This will take more than one minute, but less than five.)
• Be nice to someone. Help carry things. Say something complimentary
to a coworker or boss. Their appreciation will give you a lift.
None of these is a substitute for a week’s vacation. But
in a pinch they really come in handy ¬– AND –
with no huge credit card bill to pay off later!
This tip is provided courtesy of Pauline Wallin, Ph.D., author,
Taming Your Inner Brat: A Guide for Transforming Self-defeating
Behavior, and the Pennsylvania
Psychological Association (PPA) , sponsor of the Psychologically
Healthy Workplace Award. If you would like to receive tips
by email, contact PPA by phone or email: Rachael@papsy.org
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