Are you still replaying the events that happened at work today? Do you find yourself obsessing over every little detail on a big project that’s due soon?
Nowadays, bringing work home with us has become the norm.
The global pandemic has spoiled us with working from home and made it even more difficult to set healthy boundaries.
With our country heading into a recession and the cost of living continuing to rise, we have found ourselves working harder and longer.
Not only is it important for you to find ways to unwind after a long day or relieve stress from work, it’s a crucial part of your physical and mental health.
In this post, you’ll find 15 ways to help you unwind and relax after a long day.
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15 Easy Ways To Unwind After A Long Day
Why should you take time to unwind after a long day?
There are many benefits that come with unwinding after a long day. When you take time for self care, you will be more effective and efficient the next day.
You will also feel recharged and refreshed. It can reduce the chances of burn out and you won’t end up taking your stressful emotions out on your loved ones.
Aside from that, there are physical benefits as well like reducing cardiovascular disease, improved mental health and increased energy.
1) Exercise
After a long and stressful day, working out might not be the first thing on your mind. You might be feeling too tired and not have the energy to go exercise.
However, exercising can change your state and help you feel more energized than before. It can release all the stress you felt from work and also improve your sleep.
Any form of exercise is beneficial and you have to find the one that works for you. The best workout is the one you actually do!
2) Take A Bath
Taking a warm bath after a long day is a great way to unwind. Being around water has an amazing affect on your body, mind and soul.
It can help you feel calm and relaxed, especially if you make a little effort to indulge a bit by lighting scented candles or adding moisturizing bath bombs.
You can also keep it simple by using Epsom salt that can be beneficial for inflammation and sore muscles due to the magnesium and sulfate compounds.
3) Work On Your Vision Board
Changing your state of mind after a long day can help you de-stress after work.
When you’re at work, you put all your effort into helping the company achieve their goals. But what about yours?
Don’t work so hard at your job that you’re too tired to work on yourself.
Working on your vision board can make sure you’re always keeping your dreams as a first priority. It will give you something to work towards and give you inspiration to becoming a better version of you.
4) Walk In Nature
Spending time outdoors can help you relax. Breathing in the fresh air and watching the sunset is a beautiful and amazing way to wrap up the day.
If you find yourself habitually sitting on the couch after work, mindlessly scrolling through Netflix for something to watch, try going for a walk outside instead.
If you want, bring your partner or a friend or just go by yourself. Either way, you will definitely feel more refreshed and at ease afterwards.
5) Write In A Journal
Journaling is an excellent way to release your thoughts after a long day of working hard.
There are many different ways you can use a journal, from answering journal prompt questions or using the “brain dump” method, they’re all very effective methods for unwinding.
The simplest way to practice journaling is to write down all your thoughts at the end of the day. Don’t think too hard about it and just let it flow out of you by writing what feels natural and organic.
- Pages include: Top 3 priority list, to-do list, monthly habit tracker, gratitude and reflection section
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6) Listen To Music
Music has the ability to change our moods and choosing to listen to music to unwind can relieve stress.
Depending on the type of music you choose, it even has the ability to heal your body and mind. There are many videos on YouTube that you can choose from.
Meditative music videos are also a great way to practice deep breathing and reduce your heart rate.
7) Socialize With Friends
Hanging out with friends after a long day is a wonderful way to laugh away all the stress you had during the day. You can go out for dinner or dessert or simply go for a walk together and catch up.
Socializing with friends can also be a good distraction if you’re feeling stressed as you can talk about their day while taking your mind off of yours.
They can listen to you if you feel like sharing your thoughts with them as well.
Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you
Anne Lamott
8) Drink Herbal Tea
There is nothing quite like sipping on a cup of hot tea to soothe the body.
Drinking tea has many benefits such as boosting metabolism and helping with weight loss. Certain teas are rich in antioxidants, like black tea, which can improve heart and gut health.
Be mindful of drinking tea too late in the evening if you are sensitive to caffeine as most teas contain caffeine.
9) Do Some Adult Coloring
Coloring is normally seen as something you do when you’re a kid but did you know that coloring for adults has profound ways to reduce stress and anxiety?
Similar to painting and drawing, using an adult coloring book to unwind after a long day is a form of art therapy.
- Feel the zen with stress relieving designs
- Artwork of animals, mandalas, zentangle and nature
You can let your mind wander off while creating beautiful art pieces at the same time.
10) Spend Time With Animals
Research has shown that spending time with animals can decrease cortisol levels and lower blood pressure. Many people who have pets experience a higher quality of life also.
They can help reduce the feeling of loneliness as they offer companionship.
When you cuddle or pet a cat or a dog, your body releases oxytocin which is the “happiness hormone” leaving you feeling warm and fuzzy.
11) Pick Up A Hobby
Find a hobby that you enjoy doing and does not feel like a chore to you. It has to be something that relaxes you and even make you lose track of time.
Hobbies can be writing, knitting, cooking, drawing, crafting, the list goes on and on.
Getting creative within your hobby can put you in “flow state” or better known as “in the zone”. When you’re in this state, you feel euphoric and your mind becomes more relaxed.
12) Read A Book
Reading a good book is one of the best ways to unwind at the end of the day. It can help your mind escape for a while into an exciting adventure or a romantic fairy tale.
If you like to read educational non-fiction books, leave that for earlier in the day as it can cause more stress and overthinking.
Stick to fiction books to help you relax and de-stress after a long day.
‘The thing about books,’ she said ‘is that they help you to imagine a life bigger and better than you could ever dream of.’
13) Do Some Karaoke
Similar to exercising and interacting with animals, singing can cause your brain to release endorphins and oxytocin.
Endorphins are natural pain killers and oxytocin is the “feel good hormone”. The combination of the two has been shown by research to lower stress and anxiety.
On top of that, your vocal cords will strengthen, your vocal range will increase and your tone of voice will improve as well.
Related post: 7 Tips On How To Build Better Sleep Habits
14) Go For A Drive
A study found that lateral eye movements naturally make you feel more calm and happy.
These eyes movements, back and forth and back and forth, are what you do reflexively when you’re sitting in a moving vehicle or walking forward through an environment.
This is mother nature’s way of naturally suppressing the stress response. Going for a drive can help you feel more relaxed after a long day and it’s backed by science!
15) Meditate
Meditating has profound affects on relieving stress and healing the body and the mind. Deep breathing exercises can help you connect with your core and help you feel more grounded.
Being able to sit with your thoughts and choose which ones you want to let go of and which ones you want to keep gives you a powerful feeling of independence and autonomy.
After a long day, unwind with meditation and feel the benefits for yourself!
Thanks for stopping by 
I hope this post gave you some ideas on how you can unwind after a long day.
What do you do to relax and de-stress? Share them in the comments below!
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