Balance is key in creating a healthy lifestyle. This is especially true of your work-life balance, which can be particularly difficult to manage. That said, it’s crucial to take some extra time for self-care — those little acts of indulgence that help you decompress after a long day.
Regardless of where you are in your journey, it’s never too early or too late to be intentional with your personal time. Consider these seven suggestions.
1. Meditate
Although meditation might seem intimidating for those who have never done it before, it’s far from it. Meditation can help relax you, calm you down and help you decompress and center back into yourself. You can follow along with breathing exercises or recorded tracks to guide you. While you can meditate for long periods, even devoting five minutes every day to your practice can yield so many relaxing benefits.
2. Sweat It Out
While you don’t have to run a marathon or become a bodybuilding enthusiast, finding an exercise routine that gets your blood pumping and brings a smile to your face can help you blow off steam from a day at the office. Whether you find an activity that helps you find balance and concentration or an active, energetic exercise heavy in cardio, moving around can release endorphins and lift your mood.
3. Get Outside
Enjoying nature is a perfect way to decompress after a long day inside. If you don’t get out much during the workweek, spending a little time sitting in the sun or taking a walk in nature can feel like you’ve relocated to an entirely different universe. You can even combine your outdoor time with your workout routine by going for a hike, biking or trying something new like paddleboarding.
4. Read a Book
There’s nothing quite like getting lost in another world. If you’re looking to let your body rest and your mind explore, setting aside some time to relax and read a good book can be an excellent way to wind down. In fact, studies show that reading can reduce stress by as much as 68% — even more so than going for a jog.
5. Cook a Healthy Meal
Cooking is a great activity to decompress from work because it’s something you do just for you. You can start on dinner as soon as you get home to ease into your evening routine. By the time you’re ready to relax, you’ll have a nutritious and beautiful dish to consume. You can try out new recipes or stick to old favorites. It’s all about what makes you feel good.
If you enjoy the outdoors, you can take your cooking outside and make it a fun activity. You can check for kamado cooker reviews to find the perfect tool for cooking a delicious and healthy meal with your friends or family while enjoying the fresh air. Doing so will help you unwind, connect with nature, and make healthy eating enjoyable.
6. Journal
Journaling is a great way to process your emotions and events from the day. You don’t have to write a lot or spend all evening crafting your entries, but even jotting down a few sentences can help you wind down and decompress. If you’re having trouble getting started, you can always turn to some journaling prompts for inspiration. Journaling can be a route to relaxation and self-discovery.
7. Take a Hot Bath
Sometimes, calming down can be as simple as soaking your troubles away in a soothing bath. Baths can warm you up, relax your muscles and give your brain a chance to slow down after a long day. You can get fancy with bath bombs and essential oils, or keep it simple and relax in rejuvenating warm waters. Either way, baths are the ultimate ticket to calm city. You can even make it a ritual if soaking strikes your fancy.
Take Time for You
Relaxing and winding down after a long day at work is all about finding the techniques and routines that make you feel good. It’s important to care for yourself and give yourself the space you need to relax and unwind, so you can be a better employee and a more balanced you for years to come.
About the Author:
Oscar Collins is the managing editor at Modded. He writes about cars, fitness, the outdoors and more. Follow @TModded on Twitter for more articles from the Modded team.
