How to Relax After A Stressful Day At Work
Believing that I had left my work half done, I woke up in cold sweat one night, not too long ago. Only to realize it was just a dream or rather a nightmare! More often than I would like, I used to go through similar episodes. Most of us do. No matter how many times we tell ourselves we should leave work at the workplace, it’s not always easy to follow that advice.
But following that night, I told myself enough is enough; I cannot continue to live like that: having nightmares about work. I embarked on the journey to find out how I could detox myself from workplace stress. Read on to find out how I managed to do just that, and how you can do it, too.
Let yourself live!
Draw A Line
Firstly, you need to draw a line between your life at work and home. Not a physical one with a piece of chalk, but a virtual one in your mind. Those who tell you to switch off your phone after work are absolutely right. If you have a crotchety boss, who wouldn’t let you switch it off, then show your assertiveness. Prioritize your mental health, nothing comes before it. Make your boss understand with deteriorating mental health, no work will be done at all. Your actions, not words, must reiterate you are human and have a life besides work too; not to forget loved ones who require your attention.
Hang Out
As soon as you enter home, all you may want to do is get into your PJs, order takeout and zone out while Friends is rerunning. Unfortunately, this therapy often fails as you cannot cease to think about work. But, you don’t need to do anything hardcore like having a fully-fledged party; you can just have a quiet night in. Try returning a real friend’s or loved one’s call for a change. Speak to your friend about something that is niggling you, or just have a light-hearted conversation about everything and anything. Trust me, you will go to sleep with a smile on your face.
Watch and Banter
Didn’t I say this therapy doesn’t work? Actually, zoning out in front of a show you have watched a bazillion times does not work. It’s really enjoyable and stress relieving however, when you watch TV shows or movies with your roommate or family. And trust me, once you watch something together, it’s hard not to banter and discuss the show to death. The only thing is, in order to make your evenings fun at home, you will need to connect to a dependable internet service provider, one that is not hard on your pocket but enables you to watch TV shows and movies to your heart’s content. I know having a slow internet is not something you would want to experience after all that stress from work.
The Oldest Advice: Exercise Or Meditate
On every other blog on stress relief, they always tell you to exercise, and they advise you right. Exercising, meditating, yoga, walking or jogging, take up any of these activities depending on whatever you are comfortable with. This works like a charm as far as releasing your frustrations and distracting yourself from overthinking about work. You will feel so good, perhaps not much unlike what you may feel if you conquer the world. Even after half an hour of exercising essentially is beneficial because exerting yourself physically releases endorphins. So go and have a nice workout, and let your worries melt away.
See Also: 16 Great Reasons to Meditate That’ll Convince You to Start Now
Leave It
Despite every effort you have made to de-stress yourself, if you are still out of your mind with worry, it’s high time you distance yourself from the source of your worry. Even if it means quitting. Quit if you have a toxic boss or colleagues or if you find the entire workplace noxious. Nothing is worth more than your mental health. If you’re not mentally well, you’re eventually going to be physically off balance, and your performance at work will decline anyway. You will find a job someplace else, there will always be a place for you somewhere, but you will not get your health back, or those light-hearted, amusing, and uplifting moments with your loved ones. So leave and find a happier place, if that is the only option you have.
