So when quitting time finally arrives, there are some simple things you can do to de-stress. Here, we share five of our favorite ways to de-stress after work. Bringing family and friends into the conversation can also help you feel less isolated and open doors to additional mental health resources.
Focusing on your ‘big yes’
Spend time with family or friends, sharing experiences and enjoying laughter together to enhance your mood and create a supportive environment to unwind after work. Working with a mental health professional may help you better identify the sources of your work stress and find ways to navigate them. Sometimes, it’s easy to underestimate how much stress affects you. If you start becoming aware of how you feel, you may find yourself emotionally exhausted and pessimistic by the end of some days. Another way of prioritizing sleep is to use habit-building apps, which can help you mode-switch from work to rest time.
Doing Fulfilling Activities
Use these tips and tricks to help you “leave work at work” and relax after a stressful day. There’s a reason why thousands of people have become obsessed with watching these oddly satisfying ASMR videos like soap and kinetic sand cutting. These types of videos are linked to mood management theory, and basically implicitly make us feel more calm.
- Try to set aside quiet time to talk with your manager and calmly discuss feeling overwhelmed by challenging tasks.
- If you’re having a hard time with an incredibly challenging work week, try asking parent friends if they can help carpool your kids to school on certain days.
- Performance anxiety may also lead you to experience higher stress levels in the workplace.
How to De-Stress After Work: 11 Tips to Unwind
According to research, indulging our creativity not only bolsters our mental health, but our physical health, too. Personally, cooking something delectable is my favorite way to unwind—I find it completely therapeutic. So, next time you’re feeling how to destress after work crummy (ha, ha) after work, pull out your mixing bowl and whip up something delicious. Make time to do things that you enjoy, such as spending quality time with friends and family and exploring new or existing hobbies, suggests Dr. Lassen.
Do Something You Enjoy
Research, such as a 2021 study, suggests that journaling can be used to relieve stress on any occasion. Research has indicated that breathing techniques can benefit your physical and mental well-being, relieving stress and tension in the moment. Think about those little treats in life that put a smile on your face, and get more of them into your day. These little happiness-boosters, known as “pleasures” by psychologists, can lift your mood in a measurable way and reduce stress in the process. Listening to music is also a known strategy for stress relief, and a simple one to do while sitting in an enclosed space.
There are many https://ecosoberhouse.com/ reasons we do this, but there are more important reasons why we can and should learn to stop. Read on to gain a greater understanding of how smart people unwittingly magnify job stress, and how you can leave work at work as much as you possibly can. This can decrease your stress levels, prevent burnout, and increase your overall happiness. Nature Dose is an app that monitors how much time you spend indoors versus in nature. Additionally, you get Nature Prescriptions—customized targets for you each week. You can use this app to maintain a habit of spending time outdoors, which can eventually help in lowering stress levels.
If you want to know how to de-stress after work but don’t want to have to make much effort, meditation might be just what you’ve been looking for. Bring awareness to the present moment, ease your mind, and promote relaxation. De-stressing after a long day of work with meditation is a proven practice that reduces stress, increases focus, and supports mental well-being. Combine meditation for stress with deep breathing exercises to further reduce stress hormone levels. When you’re ending a difficult workday (or workweek), it’s important to leave work at work and move on with your personal life.
