6 Essential Tips For Unwinding After Work

Work-related stress will get the better of most of us now and then. Not allowing yourself to wind down for the day when you are at home and the office is extremely bad for your mental health and being left undealt with can lead to these issues becoming worse. Knowing how to destress after work can feel like an impossible task when there is so much work to be done, and sometimes there is never enough time in the world to complete all the necessary tasks within a day. If you have been having problems with calming down affecting work, there are likely several problems that need to be addressed.

Understanding where this anxiety stems from is the first task to get out of the way. If you are generally stressed about the level of work that is being placed on you, you need to consider speaking to your workplace and discussing your anxiety. If this stress is anything to do with you not liking your job, you should have a serious discussion with yourself to make sure you are not forcing yourself to do something that does not make you happy. 

Nevertheless, if you are looking for simple habits you can implement within your 5-9 routine, take a look at the following suggestions:

Plan For The Next Day

First of all, if you are struggling to exit work mode when you get home you need to start getting more organised. If you are constantly thinking about work when you are at home, this might be because there is a lot of work to be completed. Planning your week or at least planning for the day ahead will allow you to pull all of the ruminating thoughts out of your brain, and place them visibility onto paper.

This is an agreement with yourself ensuring that you know all the tasks for the upcoming day, and therefore you will have time to sit back as you have appropriately prepared for the day ahead. Invest into a weekly planner, or simply write your tasks onto your phone once you get home so you know what to get started on the next day.

Take A Hot Bath 

Now you have planned for the next day, it would be wise to allow yourself the time to unwind and practise self-care. Taking a hot bath is proven to improve your ability to sleep, and is also a great way to detox due to increased sweat production. Run yourself a hot bath, and also light some candles to induce you even more into relaxation with the ambient light and aromatherapy. 

Cook A Healthy Meal 

Also, you should consider cooking a healthy meal after work to help you unwind and reduce anxiety levels. Cooking gives you a great creative space to step away from other priorities and spend the time solely on creating a delicious meal. Also, making a conscious effort to make your meal much healthier will help you in the long term when you want to naturally reduce your stress levels and improve your gut health. 

Meditate 

People often neglect the value of meditation as it seems like “woo woo '' spiritual rubbish, but there is scientific evidence that supports the benefits of practising a regular meditation routine. Even if you have never tried meditating before, start with simply taking 5 minutes of your day to sit and listen to a guided meditation recording, and observe what thoughts come into your head from a third-party perspective.

Don’t get yourself down if you are struggling to concentrate, as you are training your brain to do something it has never done before. Keep trying, and complete this before you go to sleep once all of your other tasks are complete.

Write Down Your Goals

The final and possibly the most important task that you should be completing regularly after work is writing down your goals. Letting yourself fall into autopilot and showing up to work with no purpose can leave you feeling deflated and depressed when you are away from work. Stress relating to your job should be justified, so remind yourself of why you are working so hard. Whether you are working overtime to save for a Caribbean cruise, or even saving up for a house with your loved one, remember what your goals are.

Limit Your Phone Usage

Many of us are guilty for falling into the “scrolling trap” that leaves us engulfed in our  phone screens. While it can be a great way to disconnect, this time is often meaningless and offers little value to our overall routine. You can spend hours scrolling, looking at homeware gifts and funny videos, but this time should be limited. Consider setting a time limit on social media platforms and shopping websites to1 hour a day. That way you can spend more time in your evening filling up your cup, instead of ignoring your stress through scrolling.

Final Thoughts 

Winding down after work does not come naturally for a lot of us. Knowing how to turn off the anxiety that relates to your job might seem impossible, but it can be achieved through the correct routine and healthy practices. Start by organising your daily tasks so that you can separate your time when you finally are home, and then begin your self-care routine.