Relaxation at work: How to master stress and promote your well-being!

Relaxation at work: How to master stress and promote your well-being!

On September 29, 2025, a keynote lecture on stress management and recovery took place in Café Vienna at the University of Mannheim. The speaker was Völker, a research assistant at the Chair of Work and Organizational Psychology. In her ten-minute talk, she discussed the reasons for the feeling of exhaustion that many people experience.

Völker made it clear that finding ways to restore strength and energy is crucial. She spoke about the influence of the end of the day on performance and how important it is to integrate relaxation oases into your busy calendar. With the topics of everyday stress, mindfulness and work-life balance, she gave the participants valuable suggestions for coping with stress.

The importance of rest

Challenges and stress are omnipresent in the modern working world. Many professionals feel under pressure to perform at their best both at work and in their private lives. Without sufficient opportunities to recover, this excessive demand can lead to serious problems such as burnout. Therefore, a healthy work-life balance is of utmost importance to promote well-being and mental health.

Regular breaks and strategically scheduled recovery time not only increase productivity, but also overall happiness. Studies show that mental breaks and daily structures that leave room for recovery are crucial for avoiding stress and overwhelm. It is essential to set boundaries, especially in a work environment that often does not allow a clear separation between professional and private life.

Tips for managing stress

Companies and employers play a critical role in creating a supportive work environment. Flexible working hours and the option to reduce overtime help employees maintain balance. Additionally, a culture should be established where mental health is prioritized and recovery time is seen as important.

Some tried and tested tips for improving work-life balance include:

• Bewusste Zeitmanagement-Techniken
• Integration von Freizeitaktivitäten in die Wochenplanung
• Digital Detox nach Feierabend
• Lernen, „Nein“ zu sagen, um Überlastung zu vermeiden
• Offene Kommunikation mit Arbeitgebern zur Unterstützung

These small steps can make big changes in an individual's well-being. It is important to regularly think about your own lifestyle and reflect on your own priorities.

For those interested, there will be another bar discussion with Prof. Dr. on December 3rd. Eckhard Janeba on economics. Völker's lecture represents a first step in raising awareness of the topic of stress management and recovery. Anyone interested can come to Café Vienna without registering; entry is free. For further information, please refer to the University of Mannheim website at www.uni-mannheim.de/wissensdurst/.