How to De-Stress at Work: 9 Unusual but Effective Ways to Stay Calm on the Job
Work stress is unavoidable, but that doesn’t mean it has to control your day. If you're constantly feeling tense, overwhelmed, or mentally drained, it’s time to rethink your approach to stress management—especially during work hours. While deep breathing and regular breaks help, there are also less conventional, highly effective strategies you might not have tried. Here's how to de-stress at work with specific, science-backed and creative ideas that can make a real difference.
1. Use the “30-3-30” Technique for Focus & Calm
This unusual method involves:
30 seconds of deep breathing,
3 minutes of gentle stretching or walking, and
30 seconds of intentional reflection (what went well today or one thing you're grateful for).
This fast reset, done once or twice a day, interrupts the stress cycle and reboots your nervous system in under 5 minutes.
2. Change Your Font to Calm Your Brain
It might sound odd, but switching your computer’s font to something softer and rounder (like Comic Sans or Century Gothic) can reduce the visual tension caused by harsh, serif-heavy fonts. Visual design influences cognitive load, and softer fonts have been shown to ease mental fatigue, especially during long hours of screen time.
3. Practice “Mindful Microtasks”
Instead of multitasking, pick one very small, repetitive task—like sorting emails by category, organising your desktop, or clearing a physical drawer—and complete it slowly and mindfully. These “microtasks” can create a meditative state, giving your brain a mini-break while still being productive.
4. Start a Digital "Vent Journal"
Keep a private, password-protected document or note app where you can vent freely—no filters, no formatting. Writing out frustrations, even for 2-3 minutes, helps release emotional pressure and lowers cortisol levels. It's like an emotional detox without needing to speak out loud.
5. Look at Something Green for 20 Seconds
Science shows that gazing at the colour green (like a plant, photo of nature, or even a green wallpaper) can reduce stress and restore mental clarity. Place a plant on your desk or set a nature scene as your desktop background for a visual de-stressor you don’t even have to think about.
6. Chew Something Crunchy
Believe it or not, the act of chewing crunchy foods—like carrots, apples, or roasted chickpeas—can reduce tension in the jaw and nervous system. It creates a rhythmic, grounding sensation that activates your parasympathetic (rest and digest) system. Skip the chips and go for something healthy and crisp.
7. Use Aromatherapy in a Subtle Way
If your workplace allows it, use a personal aromatherapy roller or diffuser patch with calming scents like lavender, peppermint, or bergamot. No need for overpowering scents—just a subtle dab on your wrist or a scent strip in your drawer can lift your mood and lower stress.
8. Reframe the “Stress Trigger” with Humour
The next time something irritates or overwhelms you at work, try this: write a fake headline about the situation as if it were a tabloid story. Example: “Local Employee Heroically Survives 58-Email Morning Inbox Flood.” Humour is a powerful reframe that helps reduce emotional charge and promotes resilience.
9. Schedule a “Worry Window”
Instead of letting worries interrupt your workflow, schedule a 10-minute worry break once per day. During that time, jot down all your work-related anxieties, then close the list and move on. By containing worry to a specific timeframe, you retrain your brain to stay more focused and less reactive.
Final Thoughts: You Don’t Need Hours to De-Stress
Stress at work doesn’t always require big changes or long breaks. Sometimes, it’s the small, intentional, and slightly unusual actions that have the biggest impact. Try out one or two of the above ideas and see what works for you. Over time, you’ll build your own toolkit of strategies to stay calm, clear, and in control—no matter what the workday throws your way.