Six Ways To Destress From The Lab

The demands of research can be intense - long hours, unexpected results and high-stakes deadlines. At Pharmynx, we believe that sustainable scientific excellence begins with intentional self-care.

Here, we have listed six ways to help you to destress from those intense days in the lab:

1. Create a post-lab routine

   What can you do consistently when you get home? It can be as simple as lighting your favorite candle, playing a soothing song or curling up to watch the latest episode on TV. Whatever it is, creating a routine will condition the brain to equate the action as the end of working.

   
   

2. Move your body

   Any form of physical exercise will help release endorphins and other hormones that contribute to a more relaxed state of being. It could be as simple as a walk in the park, a 30 minute workout, stretch exercises or dancing to your favorite song. It all helps in destressing after a long day in the lab.

   
   

3. Take a tech break

   Back away from the phone! We are often glued to screens but taking at least 10 minutes away from it can help you to destress. Try reading, completing other tasks or just sitting in silence. You will be amazed by how relaxed you feel.

4. Journal your day

   It can be just a few lines in your journal but it plays a huge role in signaling to your brain to shut off. It is time to unwind for the day. As you write your thoughts on paper, you are processing and clearing your mind. You are releasing it all and making space for rest.

   
   

5. Become a social butterfly

   Don't isolate yourself! The lab may be where you do your work and spend most of your day, but it should not be your whole life. A call to a friend, excluding research talk, can bring joy, alleviating the tension from a long day. Engaging in a hobby such as crafting, painting, cooking etc., can help to ease your mind, bringing light to what may have been a tough day.

   
   

6. Prayer is important

   Stress is more than physical, it is also spiritual. We feel out of sorts, lost in a way. What better way to reconnect and realign ourselves than through prayer. As we communicate with God, releasing our burdens and surrendering it all to Him, we find peace and rest.

As we strive to redefine research, we also prioritize the well-being of those conducting it. You are more than your data - your health and peace matter.