Between managing your workload, sitting through long meetings, and dealing with difficult clients, some work days can seem endless. And that’s not to mention, that when you finally do get off, the thought of doing else is just too much to even contemplate. While hopefully these days are few and far between—if not, it might be time to find a new job—you don’t have to let these overwhelming feelings consume your nights. Instead, try these 6 tips for recovering after a long day at work so you can put your workday out of sight and out of mind.
Give Yourself Time to Unwind
It might feel like you have to change for the gym or start cooking dinner the moment you walk in the door, but that can just end up making you feel even more stressed. Instead, give yourself a little time to unwind. While sitting down for an hour might let any energy you had leftover dissipate, 10 to 20 minutes is just enough time to let you release some of the weight of your work day and recoup to tackle anything else you need to do.
Make Sure You Move
Sitting at a desk all day can make you feel stir-crazy and is actually bad for your health. And even if you have a standing desk, you’re likely not moving around much at work. If your work is fairly sedentary, you should make sure that you make time to get some exercise in afterwards—or at the very least, get some fresh air. Whether it’s walking, running, hitting a class at the gym with friends, or even exercising at home, working out for at least 30 minutes a day can help you feel better mentally and keeps your body healthy.
Just don’t forget to apply some menthol cream after your gym session to help soothe muscle pains so you don’t go back to the office sore.
Get Comfortable
Once you take care of any to-do’s, let yourself get comfortable. Slip into your favorite loungewear, put on your favorite show, and cuddle up with a cozy blanket and pillow. Sometimes you simply need to do absolutely nothing and let yourself veg out on the couch for an evening, and that’s okay! Skip the whole process of making dinner and instead, order your favorite dish in, so you only have to leave the couch to answer the door.
Try Proven Stress-Relief Methods
There are plenty of tried and true stress-relief methods that you can try to help you recover after a long work day, including:
- Meditating
- Reading
- Listening to music
- Taking a bath
- Coloring
- Doing yoga
- Journaling
- Dancing
Another option is to do something you enjoy, like giving yourself a DIY facial, painting your nails with your favorite polish, or swimming in the backyard—the list could go on and on.
Meet up with Friends
Sometimes what you really need after an especially rough day is your friends. Get together at your favorite local pub or wine bar for happy hour, join in on a trivia night, or simply grab dinner (that way none of you have to cook).
Whether you want to vent to them about what happened at work, or you simply want to enjoy their company, spending time with the people close to you is a great way to take your mind off your job. When you get home, you’ll feel more relaxed and refreshed than you were immediately after work.
Get Some Extra Sleep
One of the best cures for an overwhelming day is a good night’s rest. If you’re feeling exhausted from the work day, make sure you schedule in some time to get some extra sleep. And not just that, but quality sleep. Here are a few things you can do to make sure you get an especially good night of rest and wake up feeling as refreshed as possible:
- Avoid eating within three hours of your bedtime
- Wear breathable sleepwear to bed
- Cool down the room (ideal sleep conditions are 60°F to 67°F)
- Turn off all devices well before bedtime (put your phone away, turn the TV off, etc.)
- Block out all lights (if you have an eye mask, wear one)
- Use a sleep sounds or meditation app to help you drift off to sleep
With tips in mind, you’ll be ready to recuperate after a long day and get ready to take on the rest of the week.