5 Cool Bosses Share Fun, Effective Ways To Beat Stress At Work

Contrary to popular misconception, CEOs actually do not live relaxed, comfortable lives. Running a company is never an easy thing. You got hard decisions to make and busy schedules to juggle every day. It is, therefore, very crucial for those in such positions to find ways to defeat stress – it might consume them if they don’t.

As the old saying goes, “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy” and so it is important to find different ways to “play” in order to stay focused and productive in their line of work.

So what fun activities do top bosses do to relieve stress? Read on and be surprised!

#1. Walking To And From Work

LPL Financial chairman and CEO Mark Casady says he regularly walks the 2 miles to and from work. He shares:

“In that couple of miles, you’re going to be walking for 30-40 minutes depending on how slow you are, and that’s a really good time. You have to pay attention to what you’re doing, but your mind can wander at the same time. For me, that’s the best decompression moment by far.”

#2. Push-Ups and Sit-Ups At The Office

Meanwhile, Guiding Metrics founder Dave Lavinsky does push-ups and sit-ups while he is at the office. He keeps an exercise mat and, for three times a day, he closes the door for several minutes so he can stay fit and awake. “This keeps my blood flowing and my energy levels high throughout the day so I accomplish a lot more,” he says.

#3. Taking Naps at Designated Nap Rooms

Arianna Huffington of The Huffington Post loves the classic stress-reliever of taking naps. She, however, took things to the next level when she created designated nap rooms in their office.

In an interview with Business Insider, she says:

“Ultimately, at work, the most important thing is our energy. It’s not exactly how many hours we are sitting at our desks, but how present are we when we’re there.”

#4. Running During Lunch Breaks

Hitched Magazine editor-in-chief Steve Cooper, on the other hand, does something more active – he goes out for a run during lunch breaks every single day.

According to him:

“The sweat, the fatigue, the endorphin rush all give me a boost in the afternoon and into the evening… It sounds counterintuitive, but after my runs I have more energy for the rest of the day and my mind is again sharp and ready to tackle any task.”

#5. Playing With LEGOs

Lastly, Geoloqi co-founder Amber Case taps her inner child and plays with LEGOs.

In her own words:

“Legos are a great relief from the theoretical world of computers. It feels great to do something tangible with one’s hands, and it’s a great way to collaborate with others, too.

“When everyone is doing something with their hands, different kinds of discussions emerge than when a bunch of people are in a room together with laptops and phones distracting them.”