You have payroll to get out the door, an IRS filing deadline coming up, and a phone ringing off the hook with last minute questions from employees. And you’re ready to scream: “Calgon, take me away.”

Fortunately, there are office-friendly ways to relax — that don’t involve in a three-cocktail lunch hour.

Probably the best do-it-at-your desk remedy is a simple breathing technique we recently learned.

The pause that refreshes

You’ve heard the standard advice on taking a long, slow, deep breath or two to calm yourself down in very stressful moments. But regularly doing that same simple exercise can also help you clear your mind of all the million little stressors most of us deal with in a typical day. Here’s how it works:

Pair a slow, deep breath with an activity you do throughout the day. For example, you could make a conscious effort to do it every time you answer the phone, open an e-mail, pick up a folder, etc. (To remember at first, you may want to put a small sticky note that says “Breathe” within eyesight.)

Done right, a slow inhale/exhale takes only 6 seconds — not enough time to interfere with your tasks.

But that brief pause can make all the difference for your mental state. At the end of the day, not only will you go home happier — chances are you’ll find you’ve actually been more efficient and effective.

Tags: A/P, Payroll, Stress reduction