Imagine waking up early in the morning. You drink your coffee, prepare for the day and go to work. You meet with your team and do your usual work routine. But as the day progresses, you suddenly face more problems. You become busier, and you’re pressured by more tasks and deadlines. After a long stressful day, you finally go home. Now, what should you do?
Decompress. Relax and unwind.
But for some of us, our jobs still haunt our minds even when we’re supposed to relax. You may still worry about that one client or the time you messed up. As a result, you feel exhausted even when you’re already in bed.
Here are 6 ways to help get your mind off work and unwind after a very stressful day.
1. Prepare yourself before leaving work.
Preparing before going home is the best way to ensure your stress stays in your workplace. As much as possible, tie up all the loose ends. Double-check if there are still issues that bother you, and troubleshoot them before leaving work. You can create a to-do list to remind you what you need to get back the next day so you can just focus on relaxing once you get home.
2. Take a pause and do nothing.
After a busy day, sometimes you just need to take a pause and do nothing. For 10-15 minutes, try to just sit and be content with not doing anything. Then, you can close your eyes, take a deep breath and just daydream. Listen to music and allow your mind to wander. This is a simple meditation to make your mind calmer and more relaxed.
3. Exercise.
Do moderate or gentle exercise to help you unwind. For example, you can have short jogging or cycling. If you’re too tired, you can do stretching or just walk around the neighborhood with your dog.
Read more: 5 Ways Entrepreneurs Can Find Time for Exercise
4. Take a warm bath or shower.
A nice warm bath not only soothes muscles and joints but also relieves pain and stress. When done right, this can be part of your self-care. Take your time while taking a bath, and use this moment to meditate. Put some scented candles and soothing music for a more relaxing experience.
5. Get a massage.
Getting a massage, even just for 10 minutes, is a great way to overcome stress. Of course, you can massage yourself, but it’s better to let your partner or family member do it! It will make you feel more loved and satisfied.
6. Take a restful nap or get a good night’s sleep.
You can take a short restful nap when you’re too tired after work. It can reduce your fatigue and give you enough energy to continue within the day. Nap in a quiet, dark, and comfortable environment. Take note to keep your naps short to not feel groggy afterward. If you don’t like to take a nap, end your day with a good night’s sleep.
Read more: How Entrepreneurs Can Build a Good Night’s Sleep Routine
Conclusion
It may be hard to separate your work from other aspects of your life, especially when working from home. But without unwinding, you will eventually feel trapped, and it will become harder for you to work. So learn to draw a line in work to decompress and care for yourself.