How to take a 5 minute healthy break
Think five minutes is not a lot of time? Actually, if you're very busy then grabbing five minutes can be a God sent mini break from whatever you're working on during the day. Whether you work from home or in an office, why not try taking a five minute healthy break and see how it impacts your day.
To me, a healthy break is doing something for your mind, body and spirit as opposed to doing something unproductive like reading email jokes or catching up on neighborhood or office gossip. Even if you take a break alone, grabbing a glazed donut, or soda may distract your mind for a bit, but will not be great for your health in the long run. So what can you do in five minutes that's healthy?
1. Drink an 8 oz glass of water.
Water is one of the healthiest things we can put in our body and so easy to do every day. Water contributes to the well-being of our digestion, blood flow, hydration and vital brain function and is a key factor in maintaining a healthy weight. Water is refreshing and makes you feel full, so when you're hungry and your resistance is low, you'll be less likely to grab junk food.
2. Stretch and move around.
If you sit a lot during the day, work at a computer or have a desk job, it's imperative to get up an move around for five minutes. Stretching or taking a walk will help reduce leg cramps and tension in your neck and shoulders. Movement gets your blood circulating and is a quick energizer. In fact, when I'm alone in my office, I like to do jumping jacks and stretch out with a yoga ball for five minutes to energize my muscles.
3. Close your eyes and meditate.
If you're having a stressful, busy day, one of the best things you can do is find a quiet place and clear your mind for five minutes. The idea is to just focus on the stillness and calmly breath. Push all distracting thoughts out of your mind and just relax. If you work in a busy office, try taking five minutes out in your car, where no one can disturb you or borrow an empty office or conference room for five minutes. You'll be amazed at how just five minutes can refresh your mind and help you refocus.
4. Write a list.
List writing is one of the simplest and fastest ways to get organized, plan and remember important things. It's a quick way to get a grip on your schedule and prioritize what's important to you. Lists are not only good to remember what obligations we have, but are great for organizing our thoughts. For instance, lists can be very useful to break down complex projects into smaller tasks or writing down discussion topics for important meetings. In short, list writing is the perfect way to organize thoughts and stop worrying about forgetting things.
5. Connect with someone you love.
Take five minutes out to connect with someone you care about. Whether it's a phone call to your mom or a text to your spouse, checking in with a loved one is a way to feel closer to the people who matter most in your life. It's a proven fact that human connection and relationships have an impact on our overall well-being and what better way to recharge our emotional batteries than checking in with the people we love the most? Not only will you feel better, but the other person will also feel good you thought about them.
So the next time you need to take a 5 minute break, choose something healthy to refresh and feel better!
NICE POST.
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