01-05. Career Anxiety

OK, a decade at the office coalface can’t hold a candle to 10 years down an actual mine (see: Zoolander) but work stress can feel as crushing as a tunnel collapse. Scientists in Canada found career perfectionists have a 51% increased risk of early death compared to their laissez-faire peers. So unearth a healthier working week.

6.30am Throw your fists No, not at your line manager. Instead, Chinese researchers discovered busting out two hours of tai chi a week improves blood pressure enough to reduce your stroke risk by up to 41% and heart disease by 22%.

8.15am Dress to impress The dapper dons at Northwestern University found that putting on a uniform encourages men to pay closer attention to their work. To take the sting out of shopping, Uniqlo can outfit you in a smart shirt and trousers for £50 (uniqlo.com).

12.40pm Get hands-on The simple action of squeezing something reduces work stress, according to Japanese researchers. Don’t hug your knees as you sob on the staircase – grip a medicine ball as you work through a set of lunchtime twists.

6pm Head for home According to a study by (possibly overworked) Stanford University researchers, your productivity plummets if you’re ratcheting up more than 50 hours in the office each week. Clock off while the sun’s up; it’s an investment in your future.

Everyday Aim for the top Yup, Harvard research shows that occupants of the corner office have lower levels of health-ruining cortisol in their systems. Responsibility brings its own stresses, but it’s outweighed by a sense of control. One day…