Between the 9-5 and the 5-9, we all live hectic lives. Read on for team building ideas and relaxation techniques that will lower blood pressure and make you fall in love with National Relaxation Day.
Picture this: Employees start the week with zeal and enthusiasm but end up utterly stressed and exhausted by the time the weekend rolls around, thanks to the pile of work they need to get done.
As a business leader or HR personnel, what do you do if your employees constantly feel overworked and overwhelmed? The answer is giving their bodies and minds the time to relax. Sure, the weekends are designated days for rest and play, but leaders can champion relaxation initiatives during the week as well.
Thankfully, that’s where National Relaxation Day comes in. This day urges every individual to slow down and take a break. However, it's also a great opportunity for employers and HR personnel to encourage employees to value self-care and relaxation.
Read on for some practical ideas on how to celebrate this special day with your team.
National Relaxation Day (not to be confused with Britain's National Slacker Day) is celebrated every August 15th in the United States. The idea is for individuals to take a momentary break from the daily grind to unwind. This means pursuing relaxing activities, such as:
Employers and HR personnel should take the initiative to celebrate this day. It's a great way to show your employees how much your organization values the importance of relaxation while promoting a culture of work-life balance by encouraging every employee to truly relax.
As everyone knows, the workplace can become highly stressful due to demanding jobs and workloads. That can have detrimental effects on employees' health and overall well-being. Allowing them to rest their minds and bodies can make a difference in their work and the overall quality of their lives.
National Relaxation Day matters because it reminds various organizations and employees about the significance of resting and relaxing. Not only does it tell workers to unwind, but it also creates positive ripple effects in the workplace.
However, there are more to these advantages than meets the eye. The benefits of the relaxation day are aplenty:
Get some practical ideas for celebrating National Relaxation Day in the next section.
Earlier, you've learned what a relaxation day is and why it matters. Now, it's time to find ways and means to celebrate National Relaxation Day. Remember, you've got to take the initiative and be deliberate by seeing what employees enjoy doing and what works for them.
Working colleagues, whether in-office or remotely, have always dealt with workload and stress. To get rid of these, why not hold an affordable team building activity for your team? Trust us; they'll enjoy doing things together outside the four walls of their physical or virtual office.
There's nothing like sharing a good meal with colleagues. With savory dishes and refreshing drinks, here are some practical ideas for sharing a meal with your distributed team:
Exercise has always been the panacea for work troubles. Various research studies show that it can relieve stress, lower depression, and enhance cognitive function. So, working out during National Relaxation Day is best for promoting physical fitness:
Nothing can be more fun, relaxing, and fulfilling than pursuing your hobbies and interests. As such, National Relaxation Day should be filled with things employees love doing or are passionate about. But of course, these hobbies and interests vary from one person to another. Here are a few suggestions:
National Relaxation Day doesn’t have to be filled with productive activities. Your employees just need to rest during this day, as the name would suggest. They don’t have to do anything but practice self-care. So, hand over some gift cards and let them have some pampering.
There’s no denying the tasks and stress that come with work. That’s why every employee is entitled to take their rest days. But as an employer or HR personnel, encourage them to value the importance of having relaxation and practicing self-care.
That said, start planning annual events for National Relaxation Day on August 15th. More importantly, consider these five practical ideas to celebrate this momentous event, from planning a team building activity to having a pampering day with your team.
Make the most of the National Relaxation Day, and employees will return to work feeling utterly renewed and rejuvenated! If you're feeling stressed about planning an event, take a deep breath and let Confetti do the work for you. Contact [email protected] to get started.
Who celebrates National Relaxation Day?
National Relaxation Day is a holiday observed in the United States annually on August 15th. Many countries have also created similar holidays, such as National Slacker Day which was created in Britain as an homage to the American holiday.
How can you incorporate relaxation techniques into the workday?
There are many ways you can practice relaxation at work even when it's not National Relaxation Day. Some ways to combat stress and be more relaxed during the 9-5 include meditation, stretching and taking breaks, walking away from your desk at lunchtime, listening to soothing music, taking deep breaths, and more.
What is the relaxation response?
The relaxation response is the body's physical state of deep relaxation. In this state, your body releases chemicals that work to slow down your breathing and heart rate which helps circulate healthy blood back to your vital organs, especially the brain.
