After countless hours of working in the office, you’re probably exhausted by the end of the day. While you may be looking forward to driving home and plopping onto your sofa for the rest of the night, it’s important that you learn to take time for yourself in various ways. Unwinding after work doesn’t have to just be spent doing mindless activities like laying on your couch or watching TV for hours. Instead, there are alternative methods you can do to not only relax but also maintain your overall well-being. Next time you finish up a long day at work, consider trying these top tips to help you unwind in a healthy way:
1. Challenge Yourself With Exercises
For those of us who cannot manage to wake up and workout before taking on the rest of the day, try exercising after work! Although you may feel tired, getting in a quick workout has proven to be an effective way to support your health and unwanted stress. When you exercise, your body releases hormones like endorphins, which triggers feelings of positivity into your mind and body. To get the most out of your exercise, dedicate 20 minutes after work to performing one of the following exercises to improve your mood:
- Yoga
- Cycling
- Running or Jogging
- Swimming
2. Self-Care With Skin-Care
You may not realize it while at work, but throughout the day, your body is exposed to many germs. Whether you’re wearing makeup all day long or you’re constantly touching your face, your skin is highly susceptible to dirt and bacteria. That’s why it’s crucial to take time at the end of your day to focus on skin-care. Turning your normal skin-care routine into a self-care ritual can be extremely beneficial when it comes to relaxing after work. It doesn’t need to be overly time-consuming or involve too many products either! All you need to do is find skin-care products that are meant for your unique skin type. For example, if you have acne-prone skin, you’ll want to search for acne-fighting products containing tretinoin to help you combat breakouts. Tretinoin is a derivative of retinol (Vitamin A) that is used to treat acne and other skin disorders when applied topically. When applied, tretinoin will work to clear pores and prevent the development of pimples. This, combined with a hydrating face moisturizer, is a sure-fire way to keep your skin looking smooth and feeling soft!
3. Pour Yourself A Cup of Tea
Drinking tea can be valuable for soothing stress and anxiety, according to research. Despite the fact that the type of tea you drink will impact your mind and body in its own particular way, almost all of them work to relieve your mind of worries and concerns. However, you must keep in mind that, just like all medicine, tea has different effects on different people. What may work well for some, may not work well for you and vice versa. With that in mind, it’s imperative that you select a tea that serves well to your needs and is enjoyable to drink. So, before deciding, put some effort into studying the specific ingredients used in each type of tea. Chamomile teas, for example, have been found to reduce moderate to severe symptoms of a generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) as reported by a 2016 study. To get more information on herbal tea remedies for stress and anxiety, click here.
4. Listen to Your Favorite Music or Podcast
Another great way to unwind after work is by listening to music and podcasts. Listening to some soothing tunes or a motivational podcast is a quick, yet useful way to reflect on your day and clear your head. It doesn’t matter if you listen to it while you’re making dinner or cleaning up the house, the calming, uplifting sounds have the power to boost both your mood and your health! In fact, one study proved that listening to music can even allow you to slow down your breathing and heart rate, relax your muscles, and lower blood pressure! For best results, create your own feel-good playlist to listen to when you get home from work. Or, tune into other accessible playlists that are available on certain apps such as Spotify or Pandora.
5. Turn Off Your Electronics and Disconnect
With technology constantly at our fingertips, it’s not uncommon to get lost on the internet. From carelessly scrolling through your social media, to constantly checking the inbox of your work email, it’s easy to lose track of what’s right in front of you. That’s why it’s critical that you disconnect for a little bit each day. Try it out! Before you head to bed, give yourself an hour or two away from electronics. Use that time to sit back and relax the old fashion way by reading a book or writing in a journal. Having this time will allow you to become more present and concentrate on what really matters, yourself.
