We’ve all had those days when we almost feel physically unable to leave work at the door and bring the office back home with us. At times this is inevitable, but when it becomes a habit, that’s when we have due cause to worry. Simply put, your time at work should be spent being productive, and your time outside should be spent unwinding to create a healthy work/life balance.
However, this can be easier said than done, as many people struggle with separating their personal lives from their professional. From the moment your foot extends over the office threshold until you return the next working day – you should be spending this time unwinding – but it can be hard to stop work stress from trickling into our non-work lives.
We do this for many reasons but doing so often can accumulate stress in our lives, which is one of the leading causes of insomnia and other common sleep problems. To prevent this, we must take the time to relax after a stressful day at work. Whether we choose to do this by watching T.V, playing online video games or avoiding screentime, view here several ways you can make the most of your downtime.
Get Comfortable
As soon as you step foot into your home after a stressful workday, your priority should be getting comfortable to set the tone for a relaxing evening ahead. This means shedding your work uniform or daily wear in favour of your favourite pair of tracksuit bottoms, loungewear, or any piece of clothing that will help put you in the mindset of relaxation and unwinding for the evening.
Let’s face it, work uniforms aren’t renowned for being exceptionally comfy, and we’d hardly call sitting on your sofa in jeans relaxing. This is what prompts one in ten adults in the UK to change into their sleepwear immediately after arriving home from work; others admit that they swap clothing later on in the evening.
Nothing can feel better after a stressful day at work than loosening your belt, stepping out of your high heels, undoing a tie, taking off your bra, and sliding into something more comfortable. Feeling comfortable helps create a divide between your working/home life and immediately relieves some of the tensions you’ve accumulated throughout the day, preparing you for more relaxation.
Play Online Games
Playing games online or using a console is a common pastime for many members of the British public. Many debates have been made about online and console video games, some negative, others positive, but much of the research has discovered a link between the pastime and decreasing players’ stress levels.
Online games provide players with an immersive way of relieving after-work stress that is both engaging and amusing, which are emotions that are commonly associated with reducing stress levels. As well as offering storylines, memorable characters, and exciting dialogue options, games give players an objective to strive toward completing.
Often completing this objective presents a challenge for most players, which rewards them with feelings of accomplishment and in-game rewards after overcoming it. Sometimes these rewards can be in the form of in-game bonuses or monetary value, which, when received, can result in higher dopamine secretion levels putting a player in a more positive mood.
With such a surplus of gaming content available both on the world wide web and on consoles, players can find videogames suited to any skill level or gaming category. You can find an online game that caters to almost any preference from first-person shooters, role-playing games, and online casino games. Online gaming can take a certain degree of skill, so it might be a while before you start to see those rewards racking up.
However, you can develop your gaming skills using online guides in the hopes of applying your newly learned knowledge to your gameplay. Suppose online casino games are your preference. In that case, you could use sites like OnlineCasinos.co.uk to read reviews, discover new games, learn about competitions, and hone your strategies. View here for more information and find new games that’ll help you unwind after a stressful day at work.
Prepare A Meal
Eating can help reduce after-work stress levels in various ways. Turning to our favourite comfort foods after a hard day can be one of the best ways to relax and boost our body’s production of serotonin – the happiness chemical. For some, this may mean preparing a meal that you don’t usually make often, and for others, this may mean treating yourself to a takeaway.
Alternatively, you could treat yourself to a couple of snacks while watching your favourite television series or film re-run. Gather a selection of your favourite savoury (and sweet!) snacks the next time you go food shopping. If you’re feeling extra lazy, you could eliminate the need to step foot outside your home by getting something delivered straight to your door.
Of course, it’s important not to rely on this relaxation method all too often as it can lead to weight gain and put unnecessary strain on your wallet. But so long as you don’t overindulge too often, treating yourself to the foods you don’t usually eat can be a healthy way to reward yourself after a long day at work and put you in a relaxing mindset.
Pamper Yourself
On the other hand, if you’re not the type of person to turn to food when you’re feeling stressed out after a hard day at work, setting up your very own pamper session is an alternate way to unwind. At times we all need some TLC, and the good news is that you don’t need to go to a spa to have a relaxing experience.
There are several tried and tested ways to plan a pamper day from the comfort of your own home without having to break the bank. From simple self-care steps like washing your hair and taking a bubble bath to more time-consuming rituals like giving yourself a gel manicure and waxing – you can incorporate a range of activities into your weekly self-care ritual. Giving yourself the attention that you need makes you feel better about yourself, therefore reducing your stress levels, and enabling you to put the same energy, love, and attention into others.
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