Stressed at work? Here’s how to rub it off

One of the simplest and most effective ways to relieve head tension is to get the blood circulating between the skin, skull and brain. Take ten minutes to do these simple exercises - you’ll boost your productivity:

Start by rubbing your temples: Rest your elbows on your desk and rest your hands on your temples. Make small, circular motions, gently rubbing the skin clockwise and then counterclockwise. Take ten long breaths while doing this.

Now rub your scalp: Place your hands on your scalp and spread your fingers and thumbs out to cover as much of the scalp as possible. Gently rotate the hair roots in a clockwise motion. Breathe slowly and deeply to boost oxygen flow to the scalp. Take 10 long breaths, massaging while you breathe. Then change direction. Start at the hairline and move backwards to the nape of the neck.

Finish with a “third eye” rub: Rest your elbows on your desk, hand and forearm parallel to your spine. Lift the heel of your hand to your third eye point – that’s the open area of real estate between your eyebrows. Allow all the weight of your head to fall into the heel of your hand. Breathe rhythmically.

Make small circular rotations with the heel of your hand on the third eye point. While breathing deeply, do clockwise and counterclockwise movements.

- (William Smook, Health24, updated January 2009)