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Top Adrenaline Rush Activities to Beat the Workplace Blues

8 min read
Last Updated on 10 August, 2022

Businesses are constantly looking for an edge that sets them apart from their competitors. In today’s world, it is essential for both employers and employees to become proactive about corporate wellness. These days, a lot of employees seek a bit of adventure in their daily life to ease out their work-related exhaustion. In this pursuit, promoting adrenaline-rush activities can be the real point of difference for employers.

It has been proven that adrenaline, the hormone associated with fight or flight, boosts company productivity and team performance in many ways. According to a study by IQL Stratford, If employees participate in periodic adrenaline rush activities then there is a 25% dip in the stress level, 20% increase in productivity and creativity, and energy levels also rose by 32% in the workplace.

What is an Adrenaline Rush?

When individuals experience a great amount of stress from their immediate environment, there is a release of adrenaline. This release helps the person to focus so that they can take on the situation head-on. Adrenaline is also known as epinephrine and is a stress hormone.

What-is-Adrenaline-Rush-

An adrenaline rush can feel like excitement, nerves, or pure confidence as the body and mind prepare for the event. It gives the person that extra ounce of courage and confidence to fight the situation.

What Happens During an Adrenaline Rush?

During an adrenaline rush, a person experiences an increase in heartbeat and starts sweating. It is the body’s stress response, which makes the person feel euphorically confident to take on any challenge or situation. It is a feeling quite similar to that of intoxication.

When an individual finds themselves in a stressful situation, a series of events occurs very rapidly in the body. Even before the person is able to think or is aware of what is happening in the body, the information about the potential danger is transmitted to a part of the brain called the amygdala. This part of the brain plays an important role in processing emotions.

What-Happens-During--an-Adrenaline-Rush-

The amygdala passes this information to another part of the brain called the hypothalamus. This small area located at the base of the brain handles releasing of hormones.

The hypothalamus sends signals to the adrenal glands, located on top of both kidneys. The adrenal glands in response release the hormone adrenaline into the bloodstream.

The hormone travels to various organs of the body through the bloodstream. It produces a rush of adrenaline, marked by increased heart rate.

Need for Adrenaline Rush in the Workplace

"Life is a daring adventure or it is nothing at all"- Helen Keller

There can be various reasons why employees would seek a ‘kick’ or an adrenaline rush in their life. More often than not, employees complain about feeling burnt out due to constant workplace stress and routine life.

Need-for-Adrenaline-Rush-in-the-Workplace

A recent report from Indeed found that employee burnout is on the rise. 52% of all workers complain about being burned out, up by +9% from a pre-COVID survey.

Best Workplace Activities for Adrenaline Rush

1. Hiking and Trekking Activities

Hiking is a great excuse to get outdoors, move the body, and explore new places. The numerous physical and mental health benefits of hiking make it one of the best workouts for employees.

Hiking-and-trekking-activities

Every year a number of workforces are taking up hiking as a much-needed stress relief activity. The trend is more so after people were locked down for a long time due to the covid-19 pandemic. Similarly, an employer can also arrange trekking activities. Some of the benefits of hiking and trekking include-

  • They are good cardio exercises and help to maintain good heart health.
  • They help to maintain good physical health, building strong muscles and bones.
  • They help employees to build endurance.
  • They help employees to get better sleep.

Suggested read: How Sleep Deprivation Affects Work Performance

2. Walkathons

A walkathon is a community-based walking program hosted by an organization. The purpose is to raise funds or gain awareness about a particular cause such as breast cancer, environmental wellness, etc. By organizing a walkathon, an employer highlights a social concern. It also provides a wellness platform for its employees.

walkathons

Walkathons are easy to host and organize. Being a group-oriented activity, it is the perfect health event that businesses can hold.

3. Office Scavanger Hunt

Scavenger hunts are puzzle-based games that are fun to play. Participants have to find hidden items using the hints and clues provided. It can be a very entertaining experience for employees and it can be a great office activity.

‘Treasure hunt’, ‘Find the employee’ are some of the ideas that can be part of a scavenger hunt activity.

4. Sports Day

Add some spice to your corporate life by organizing an annual sports event. A sports day in which employees play various outdoor and indoor games can unlock health goals. It will also help employees to bond with their teammates.

Sports-day

Employers can also consider hosting office Olympics. It consists of various office games and challenges. Incorporate the activities into the wellness platform and give incentives to the winners of the Olympics.

5. Yoga and Meditation

Yoga is a practice which companies are starting to include in their company's wellness programs. As the number of employees battling chronic stress is increasing, the demand for corporate yoga and mindfulness meditation is also on the rise. Many corporate offices are availing of the services of yoga instructors to address the demand.

Yoga-and-meditation

Yoga and meditation are linked with-

  • Increased energy and productivity among employees.
  • Reduced workplace stress levels.
  • Better immunity among employees

Employers are incorporating guided meditation and yoga into their wellness portals. Employees can now easily avail these mindfulness sessions and gain control over their adrenaline-seeking behavior.

6. Tug of War

A tug of war can be a great idea to enhance employee engagement and wellness for the workforce. Different departments in the workforce can be divided into different teams and an event can be organized. It can be an ideal fun activity for employees out on a beach day getaway.

It will enhance teamwork and team-building and also take care of the adrenaline kicks, which the employees can desire after a period of exhaustion from office work.

7. Office Picnics

A successful company picnic and party create a sense of comradery and bring employees together. As an employer, take an interest in organizing fun games in office and events for special occasions like Christmas, New Year’s Eve, etc.

Office-picnics

Set aside a day every month for such events and plan accordingly. Make sure to provide opportunities for employees to showcase their hidden talents. That way employees will not just unwind but also find ways to meet their adrenaline kicks.

Adrenaline-rush Activities at Work: Benefits

There are some very important benefits of adrenaline-rush activities in the workplace. It can be anything from enhanced work performance to balancing mental health. Some of the benefits are mentioned below -

1. Helps Employees to De-stress from Work

Sometimes doing repetitive tasks can be boring and stressful for employees. By taking part in adrenaline-inducing activities, employees can find a way to de-stress from work. Adrenaline helps the body muscles to relax. The bronchioles in the lungs relax and make breathing much easier.

De-stress-from-work

Employees can participate in hiking, camping, or sports during the weekend off days and take care of their physical as well as mental wellbeing.

Suggested read: 18 Lesser-Known Stress Relief Activities & Ideas for Office

2. Enhances Job Performance and Prevents Employee Burnout

Through thrill-seeking activities, employees can effectively recover from work-related burnout. It is suggested that employees should take part in regular sporting activities and adventures. This will help them feel more energized, and keep them fresh for the workplace.

Enhances-job-performance

An employee who feels energized is naturally more productive. So taking part in outdoor activities also enhances employee productivity.

3. Helps Employees to have Control over their Emotions

Adrenaline-inducing activities help employees to change their emotions by controlling their reactions. While the direct effect of adrenaline on emotional response is yet to be concluded, it can surely help to keep a check on the dramatic episodes in the workplace that create awkward situations among colleagues.

4. Employees Feel more Satisfied at Work

Employees appreciate the fact that they are provided ample opportunities by the organization to unwind and take part in extracurricular activities.

According to a study conducted by Harvard Business Review, the retention rate of employees in an organization is higher where the employer focuses on periodic outdoor activities for its employees.

5. Boosts Team Bonding

Team-bonding

Although adrenaline does not directly boost teamwork, but participating in adventure activities together definitely does give one the adrenaline kick.
When a team shares the experience of an adventure or an exciting trip, it strengthens relationships among team members and creates a healthy work environment too.

Risk Management

At times, this thrill from adrenaline can become addictive. In fact, doctors say that “Adrenaline addiction” is like any other addiction. It makes the individual both obsessive and compulsive, igniting more adrenaline-seeking behavior.
Adrenaline is quite close to dopamine, a neurotransmitter that promotes feelings of euphoria and pleasure. Dopamine also plays a role in addiction. This hints at the potentially addictive nature of an adrenaline rush.

Risk-Management

Sometimes employees' craving for adrenaline can push the bar a bit too far, which can endanger their health and security. Also, there are chances that employees may lose focus on their job responsibilities and adrenaline-seeking thoughts can become a distraction.

Employers have a significant role to play in managing such a situation. They must organize periodic activities like sports events, hiking, and sports activities so that the hunger for adrenaline and dopamine in employees is met. Also, they must keep the door open for suggestions from the side of the employees regarding the need for any such activities.

Conclusion

Employees must learn to balance job demands and their adrenaline needs. Outdoor games and experiences not just pump adrenaline high but also push employees to get out of their comfort zone and enhance team bonding.

Everyone wants a bit of adrenaline in their lives, isn’t it? So participating in adrenaline-inducing activities is necessary, but must be done with a certain degree of caution.

This article is written by Nizamul Bhuyan, a Content Marketer at Vantage Circle. With a professional exprience of writing on various subject domains like Corporate Wellness and Sports, he prefers to watch football and explore new places to unwind. To get in touch, reach out to editor@vantagecircle.com

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