Top 10 Relaxing Activities To Unwind After a Stressful Day at Work
Your micromanaging boss has questioned you for the umpteenth time about the progress you’re making on your big project. And your co-worker has tried to dump more work into your lap. Again.
Tired of office stress? You may not be in a position to leave your job and never step foot in that office again. But you can make your after-work hours the perfect escape you need from your most stressful days.
Here’s a rundown of 10 relaxing activities you can do to unwind after a stressful, drama-filled day at work.
Let’s dig in!
1. Relaxing Activities Include Enjoying Spa Time
Without a doubt, one of the best ways to unwind after work is to treat yourself to spa time — without ever leaving your house.
You can easily turn your yard into the most relaxing oasis you’ve ever experienced by adding a Jacuzzi spa to your property. It’ll offer the perfect opportunity to sit and soak all of your troubles away. Just don’t forget to keep your spa protected with a spa cover, which is available through such companies as Spa Mate.
Even if you don’t have enough space for a spa, you can still set up an umbrella, some patio chairs, potted plants and a hammock on your property for the ultimate relaxation space. Then, all you’ll need to add to the mix are a good book, a cold drink and some nice music. Perfect.
2. Watch a Movie
If you’re a movie aficionado, then watching your favorite flick at home couldn’t be a more perfect way to unwind. To make your movie-watching experience even more delightful, enjoy your film with a little popcorn and wine, too.
3. Work Out
After a long, stressful day at work, working out might not necessarily be high on your list of priorities. However, taking a walk or participating in a workout class can be immensely helpful for de-stressing.
Exercise is known to boost the generation of endorphins in your brain — hormones that lower stress and enhance your mood. The best part of all of this? Just between 20 and 30 minutes of exercise after work is all you need to experience the benefit of endorphins.
4. Enjoy Nature and Take Photos
According to famous author Henry David Thoreau, it wasn’t until after he made the woods his home that he realized the value of nature in life. Greenery is far more relaxing and comforting than screen pixels are, so time in nature can do wonders for your well-being.
But don’t just sit in nature and bask in all of its unparalleled glory. Take pictures of it, too. Capturing your local natural scenery is a perfect de-stressor if you love photography or wish to tap into your unique creative side while tapping into the benefits of nature.
5. Spend Some Time with Your Partner
Sometimes spending sweet time with your significant another can recharge your batteries following a long workday.
What’s so great about being with your love is that you don’t need to spend any money to make your time with him or her meaningful. All you need is a good movie and a space to snuggle at home. Or, you could take a nice walk together along the beach or at a park and engage in deep conversation for the ultimate connection opportunity.
6. Take a Nap
If you feel tired after your workday, why not take a catnap? A quick nap can easily restore the energy you lost during a demanding day so that you can enjoy the rest of the day at home.
Naps not only increase your energy levels but also decrease your stress levels. As a result, you’ll feel happier. And face it — isn’t that what you ultimately want each day?
7. Meditate and/or Do Yoga
If you’ve never tried meditating before, now is the perfect time to try it. Meditation remains a popular activity because it is a proven method for calming your mind.
Yoga is basically meditation with a physical component added to it. This body and mind practice is extremely helpful for reducing stress, so it’s worth trying at least once.
8. Talk to Yourself
This may sound crazy, but trust us — it’s far from it. By engaging in self-talk, especially if it’s positive, you can quickly boost your happiness level.
Everyone could use a pep talk every now and then. The problem is that sometimes you don’t have family members or friends who are readily available to give you these talks. So, the next-best thing is to give yourself one.
Feel free to talk to yourself about how your day went, how your life is going and how you feel about everything going on. Then, tell yourself that everything will ultimately work out for your good.
This process can make you more aware of the negative feelings you’re harboring and then release them. In the end, you’ll feel much better about yourself, your life today and your future.
9. Go Barefoot
This is yet another tip that might sound a bit off, but trust us, we haven’t gone off the deep end.
As we mentioned earlier, nature is your best friend after a stressful day of work. Going barefoot will help you to experience nature even more intimately and can actually benefit your body in the process.
When you walk barefoot, your body absorbs the free electrons present in the earth. This has a powerful antioxidant impact on your body.
So, you could say that something as simple as going barefoot can benefit you physically, emotionally, mentally and even spiritually. You can’t beat that.
10. Stretch
Stretching can do wonders for your body, just as exercise can. By stretching, you can release tension as well as gain flexibility.
Stretching additionally promotes healthy blood circulation and benefits the lymph nodes, thus strengthening your body’s immune system. In fact, this is why stretching is such an essential part of yoga.
How We Can Help
We offer a wide variety of tips and advice on how to lead more productive lives in the workplace.
Contact us to find out more about relaxing activities you can do after work as well as how to enhance your quality of life while at work, too.
