6 easy exercises for anxiety and stress relief – that you can do at your desk

Feeling frazzled at work? Coming home exhausted and snappy? Stress has a huge impact on both our professional and personal life, but small and easy steps can help minimise its impact.

The coolest thing about traditional Chinese medicine is that it can help with both physical and emotional issues. It's fundamental to value mind and body equally if we want to overcome an issue. We cannot afford to consider the two as separate, watertight compartments.

So here are six videos showing really easy exercises you can do for yourself at work, taking advantage of key acupressure points to stimulate your body and ease your mind in times of high stress or anxiety.

1. Massage between your eyebrows (Yintang point)

The point Yintang ("Hall of seal", in Chinese) is located midway between the eyebrows and is believed to calm the spirit in times of anxiety and stress. Simply place pressure on this point with your finger for a couple of minutes while concentrating on your breathing and feel the waves of relaxation roll in.

2. Give the top of your head some love (GV20 point)

Clear your head from overthinking and relax your mind by focusing on the Governor Vessel 20 point (Bai Hu in Chinese, meaning "Hundred meetings"). It’s at the top of the head, midpoint of the line joining the tips of the ears. Massage this point for a couple of minutes to bring a moment of calm to your day.

3. Squeeze the tips of your ears (Erjian point)

The point Erjian ("Apex of the ear", in Chinese) is located at the top point of the ear, and is used to clear heat and swelling – and that includes high blood pressure caused by stress. Spend a couple of minutes squeezing this point, take some time for yourself and breathe.

4. Massage your wrists (PC6 point)

This one is super powerful – it can have benefits to your entire body. Known as Pericardium 6 ("Nei guan" in Chinese, which means "inner gate"), it’s a great point for all kinds of nausea and is also hugely calming for the spirit. You can find it three finger widths above the wrist crease, in the middle of the two tendons you feel when you flex your wrist.

5. Press just below your knee (GB34 point)

In Chinese Medicine, the Gall bladder is the yang partner of the Liver and assists in its clearing and detoxing nature in the body. Its meridian is particularly in control of our decision-making process and providing courage. So be brave and give this point a squeeze! Gall Bladder 34 ("Yang ling quan" in Chinese, which means "Yang mound spring") is also a great point for muscle pain relief. It’s located in the depression in front and just below the head of the fibula (the 'knobbly' bone on the outer leg, below the knee).

6. Apply pressure just beside your big toe (LI3 point)

OK, we admit this one might not be the easiest to do at your desk! But Liver 3 ("Tai Chong" in Chinese, which means "Great surge") is one of the greatest acupoints for helping with blood and qi circulation, nourishing and calming our liver, blood and mind, and clearing the head and eyes. It’s located in the webspace depression between the big toe and second toe, just before where they join.

Don’t forget, we’re here to help you

You might like to check out all of our videos in our ‘Stress relief and calming exercises’ playlist on YouTube.

If you still feel like you’re not coping, it might be time to book yourself in for a calming acupuncture appointment to help reestablish the natural flow of balance to your body.