Are you looking for ways to de-stress after a hectic day at work? These steps will help you keep stress away after you leave office and disengage from the challenges of the day.
Laura from Perth lived her life in the ‘work’ mode at all times. Running a successful online apparel venture needed her to be online pretty much round the clock. Stress-filled days were part of her routine, till, at the age of 32, she was diagnosed with hypertension that increased her likelihood of cardiovascular complications.
Laura’s story of stress points to a growing epidemic of us taking our work home after a stressful day. We are increasingly unable to disconnect from work the moment we step out of the office door. Though we are supposed to leave our work behind, our smartphones, laptops, and mobiles ensure that this is, unfortunately, not the case.
What can you do about it?
After the stressful day at the office, it is crucial to de-stress. This step helps us carry on the fire from within and avoid burning out. If you are interested to know about the different ways how to accomplish this goal, then this post is just for you.
We look at a few ways you can disengage yourself from work once the day is over.
Turn off the screens
A recent Mayo Clinic study links the omnipresent Internet and social media to be a source of depression and sleep disorders for both men and women. While it is good to use it in the office and workplace, staying glued to the screen even after work hours is a good stress accelerant.
To overcome this issue, you can place a cap on screen time per day. Also, you can shut down all screens at least an hour before you hit the bed.
Soak in soap bubbles
A hot water shower or bath is sure to drive away most of the stress from every pore of the body. The warm sprinkle of water gushing from the overhead shower is calming enough to help you banish the blues. To get maximum impact, you can alternate between hot and cold shower.
Treat yourself
Make a reservation at a great restaurant after a stressful day. The welcoming environment, the courteous stewards, and the lip-smacking food will help you overcome the challenging day you have had to endure earlier.
You will be sure to remain comforted with the warm food coursing down the tummy. Treating yourself to a hot plate of food will be a great way to overcome the pressure-filled day you have had.
Build a post-work ritual
Many people continue thinking about work-related matters even after they have left office. One reason for this issue can be that they don’t have other hobbies or rituals that they can look forward to.
Hence, it is a good habit to have a post-work ritual that you can come home to after a hectic day at work. These rituals help us take cognizance that we have a life beyond our office desks.
We can take on the mantle of a spouse, a son/daughter, or a parent. Doing so helps us to take our mind off work and engage in a fruitful habit or hobby worth pursuing.
Invite tranquillity to your home
It should not happen that when you step into the home, you end up feeling more stressed than before. Your house should be an abode that helps you rejuvenate and stay relaxed.
Your home should be the one place you anticipate coming back to eagerly. Right from indulging in your favourite music genres to taking a calming sip of tea, there are quite a few things you can do to invite tranquillity to your home.
Sweat it out with exercise
Exercise is known to reduce stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. It also stimulates the production of endorphins – chemicals in the brain help elevate the mood. Be it intensive gym workouts, aerobics, yoga, or even simple activities like brisk walking, an exercise in almost any form can be a fabulous stress buster.
Such physical strain on your body can help you come out of the vicious circle of anxiety and overthinking and can make you feel better. Hence it is wisely said to get moving to banish stress. As you begin focusing on the singular task of movement and workout at a gym near you, it becomes easy to shed the tension surrounding you.
Pick up a paintbrush
Creative pursuits like painting can help you calm down after an incredibly hard day at work. When you put your collective focus on creating your next artistic marvel, you can shed the stress by not thinking about it. Be it sketching, watercolour painting, or even colour pencils, art can work wonders to do away with the hardships of the day.
A Drexel University study has proven that a session of art-making resulted in a decrease in cortisol levels in the participants. Irrespective of your artistic skill or talent, just 30 minutes a day can help you feel de-stressed to a significant degree.
Slow music
Slow tempo in music is known to bring down the level of high alert the body encounters after a stressful day at work. With soulful chords, you can enable a sense of relaxation around you and de-stress effectively.
However, make sure that you don’t listen to high tempo, foot-stomping dance numbers, as these may make you more alert and energised. This action is opposite to your intended goal of achieving tranquil peace and calmness after a hectic day at work.
To conclude
These were some of the ways you can disconnect from work the moment you step out of the office door to leave for home. While it may sound a bit challenging initially, you will become habituated in a few weeks. All it needs is a bit of a push from inside you.
Written by Lynda Arbon
About the Author
Lynda Arbon is a passionate and enthusiastic health blogger. She likes keeping herself updated on health trends and blogs. Her favourite pastime is learning history and solving crossword puzzles. Follow her on Twitter.
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