[{"id":6908,"date":"2026-04-13T04:10:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-13T04:10:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/?p=6908"},"modified":"2026-03-10T16:13:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T16:13:13","slug":"a-calmer-start-to-the-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/2026\/04\/13\/a-calmer-start-to-the-week\/","title":{"rendered":"A Calmer Start to the Week \u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Mondays can feel a little off when you\u2019ve lost an hour of sleep. The morning might feel more rushed than usual, like the day started before you were quite ready. On weeks like this, it can help to lean on routines that are already part of your day to reduce stress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead of trying to overhaul your schedule, add a relaxation practice to something you already do automatically. Try deep breathing while your coffee brews, meditating while your shower warms up, or doing a little yoga while watching TV.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a simple habit-stacking trick that can help create a more relaxed Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We know what you\u2019re thinking \u2014 what is habit stacking?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The idea behind habit stacking is simple: add a new behavior to your daily schedule by \u201cstacking it\u201d on top of an existing habit. The concept of habit stacking was pioneered by James Clear, author of the New York Times<\/em> bestseller, Atomic Habits<\/a>, and it is designed to help individuals incorporate more healthy behaviors into their lives without disrupting their normal routine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pairing the concept of habit stacking with DeStress Monday will make you proactive in adding more calming and meditative behaviors to your daily schedule. For example, many of us make coffee in the morning, and, whether you\u2019re using a drip pot or French press, the brewing process takes between 5 \u2013 10 minutes. With habit stacking, the time you wait for your coffee can also be the time you spend practicing a mindful meditation or deep breathing exercises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By stacking enough of these habits, you\u2019ll effectively (and seamlessly) incorporate a surprising amount of stress-relieving activities into your life. Try habit-stacking this Monday, and add some more moments of calm and contemplation to your daily routine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coffee brewing: Take a moment for deep breathing<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coffee takes a few minutes to prepare and brew. While you wait, sit in the kitchen and do some deep breathing exercises<\/a>. By counting your breaths, you\u2019ll feel re-energized and relaxed even before taking that first sip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heating up the shower: Practice a mindful meditation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Showering is a common part of the morning routine, but everyone knows it takes a few minutes to get the water nice and hot. Take that time to engage in a mindful meditation<\/a> by closing your eyes and focusing on the sound of the shower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Waking up or going to sleep: Do bed yoga<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We all want a few extra minutes in bed, so why not put that time to good use with some bed yoga<\/a>? Doing yoga on a mattress is soft, accommodating, and works especially well for those who have an injury or a physical limitation. Start off with these simple poses<\/a> and add more advanced movements as you get more comfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watching your favorite show: Try a sun salutation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You don\u2019t have to feel like a couch potato when you\u2019re watching television. Let your body and mind unwind by pairing your TV watching with a calming sun-salutation sequence<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can read the article here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Mondays can feel a little off when you\u2019ve lost an hour of sleep. The morning might feel more rushed than usual, like the day started before you were quite ready. On weeks like this, it can help to lean on routines that are already part of your day to reduce stress. Instead of trying to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":640,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6908","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6908","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/640"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6908"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6908\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6908"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6908"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6908"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":6964,"date":"2026-04-10T08:03:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-10T08:03:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/?p=6964"},"modified":"2026-04-07T20:03:46","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T20:03:46","slug":"funny-friday-275","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/2026\/04\/10\/funny-friday-275\/","title":{"rendered":"Funny Friday"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":640,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6964","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6964","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/640"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6964"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6964\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6964"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6964"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6964"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":6961,"date":"2026-04-09T07:37:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T07:37:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/?p=6961"},"modified":"2026-04-07T19:39:19","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T19:39:19","slug":"shake-off-the-stiffness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/2026\/04\/09\/shake-off-the-stiffness\/","title":{"rendered":"Shake Off the Stiffness"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Don\u2019t underestimate the importance of stretching. It\u2019s not just for athletes or people who work out regularly. It preserves mobility, improves range of motion in the joints, and protects you from future injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Stretching preserves mobility, improves range of motion in the joints, and protects you from future injury.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t underestimate the importance of stretching. It\u2019s not just for athletes, runners, and gymnasts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, understand that it\u2019s not necessary to stretch every <\/em>muscle in the body. Focus on the core muscle groups that most impact your daily life, such as your lower body \u2014 calves, hamstrings, hip flexors, pelvis, quadriceps \u2014 because these muscles affect your mobility and balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Secondly, remember to properly execute each stretch. Before starting any new workout regimen, consult a trainer or physical therapist. Basic stretching practices<\/a> include: always warm up because you need to get blood flowing to the area to make the tissue more pliable; hold a stretch for at least 30 seconds; feel tension in a stretch, not pain; and don\u2019t ever \u201cbounce\u201d while you stretch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Click here<\/a> for a collection of simple movements to ease you into your stretching routine. Want some guidance? Try this 15-minute gentle full-body stretching routine<\/a> led by a physical therapist.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Don\u2019t underestimate the importance of stretching. It\u2019s not just for athletes or people who work out regularly. It preserves mobility, improves range of motion in the joints, and protects you from future injury. Stretching preserves mobility, improves range of motion in the joints, and protects you from future injury. Don\u2019t underestimate the importance of stretching. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":640,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6961","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6961","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/640"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6961"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6961\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6961"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6961"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6961"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":6955,"date":"2026-04-08T05:18:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-08T05:18:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/?p=6955"},"modified":"2026-03-24T20:24:32","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T20:24:32","slug":"overthinking-this-will-help","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.vcu.edu\/hr-worklife\/2026\/04\/08\/overthinking-this-will-help\/","title":{"rendered":"Overthinking? This will help"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Overthinking is something we all do\u00a0<\/strong>\u2013 replaying the past, catastrophising the future\u00a0or getting stuck in loops of doubt and analysis. It feels like problem-solving, but usually just leaves us anxious, overwhelmed and stuck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How To Stop Overthinking<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In today’s podcast Dr Jessamy Hibberd<\/a> shares a five-step plan to help you recognise overthinking, shift your focus and move forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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