I used to hit a wall every afternoon. By 3 p.m., my focus was gone, my body felt heavy, and even simple tasks seemed to take twice as long. My brain wanted coffee, my shoulders wanted a holiday, and my posture… well, let’s just say my chair and I weren’t on good terms.
Working in London meant long commutes, desk hours that stretched into the evening, and back-to-back deadlines. I started my days feeling tired and ended them feeling completely drained. Even weekends weren’t enough to recharge me.
Then, almost by accident, I discovered that massage could be my secret weapon for boosting energy—not just a treat to help me relax.
It started with a one-off booking after a particularly stressful week. I expected to leave feeling looser, maybe calmer. What I didn’t expect was how energised I felt afterwards. My mind was clearer, my posture straighter, and I actually looked forward to getting back to work the next day.
The effect wasn’t just in my head. Massage increases blood circulation, which helps deliver more oxygen and nutrients to muscles and brain tissue. It also reduces muscle tension, which can sap energy by forcing your body to work harder just to hold itself up. And by lowering cortisol (the stress hormone) while boosting serotonin and dopamine, massage helps restore mental focus and motivation.
I started booking regular sessions every two weeks, focusing on my neck, shoulders, and lower back—my main “energy drain” zones. Within a month, I noticed:
- Less mid-afternoon fatigue – I could work through the day without feeling like I needed a nap.
- Better concentration – My mind didn’t wander as much, even during long meetings.
- Improved posture – Less slouching meant I could breathe more deeply, which kept me more alert.
- Fewer aches and pains – I wasn’t wasting energy dealing with constant background discomfort.
Massage also gave me something I didn’t realise I was missing: permission to pause. In a city that never stops, that one hour of quiet became a reset button for my whole week. Instead of running on fumes, I was refuelling regularly.
Now, I see massage as part of my productivity plan, not just my wellness plan. Just as you wouldn’t expect your laptop to run at full speed without charging it, you can’t expect your mind and body to keep performing without recharging them too.
If you feel like work is draining every bit of energy you have, consider swapping one of your extra coffees for a massage session. It’s a different kind of pick-me-up—one that works on a deeper level and lasts far longer than caffeine ever could.
For me, massage didn’t just help me relax—it helped me show up at work with more focus, more drive, and more energy to give. And in a city like London, that’s worth its weight in gold.