How to Relax and De-Stress After a Long Day at Work

Are you letting daily work stress bring you down and make you sick? Do you know what to do after that stressful day at work?

The accumulation of stress can affect everything from your physical health to your decision-making capabilities, personal relationships, and even hamper your creativity. Learning new ways to relax, de-stress, or decompress is essential to your continued health and well-being.

yourfootpalace.com gathered information on creative, athletic, and fun ways to de-stress and relax after a long and challenging day at work.

Schedule Time to De-Stress After Work

Finding the time to de-stress may seem difficult, but it is not. Use your calendar or agenda the same way you would for a business meeting or appointment. Block off one to two hours every other day to indulge in activities that help you release the tension of your job, bills, and other issues.

Learn to say no. The time you allocate to relaxing activities should be treated just as important as any other commitment. Without an outlet, stress can build up and contribute to the rapid decline of your physical and mental health.

Creative Ways To Relax After a Hard Day

Creative is the key word here. The following activities are meant to inspire diversity and create an atmosphere in which the journey is as meaningful as the end result.

Cook – Dig out the old family recipes or create some of your own. Cooking a dish or a meal is a fantastic way to focus your efforts on something with an immediate result. If you’re not that good at it, start off simple. Like any other muscle, the more you flex it, the stronger it will get.

Keep a Journal – Writing about your day, travels, and experiences can help you sort through stressful situations more easily. Over time, you will be able to look back through your writings and recognize how you’ve evolved.

Take a Class – Nowadays, there are classes for just about anything hobby related. Whether you want to learn music, knitting, or woodworking, there is someone out there who can teach you.

Paint a Picture – Painting is a way to unlock a higher level of creativity using the formation of images and the combination of colors.

For the beginner, a local art store can offer guidance for supplies and basic instruction. Many of them offer classes as well.

You can further unlock your creativity when you visit local art galleries and find inspiration and discover unlimited possibilities.

Athletic Ways to Unwind After a Stressful Day

Athletic activities are very efficient at helping us relieve stress and anxiety, not to mention the physical benefits that come with them.

Work Out – Whether for cardio, resistance, strength, or a combination of them, a regular work out schedule will help your mind and body decompress.

If you aren’t familiar with how a fitness center works or are new to working out, a certified personal trainer can help you plan a routine and get you started in the right direction.

Walk – Either by treadmill or trail, walking like working out is an excellent way for you to reduce your stress, or simply let it go. If you are fortunate enough to work or live near a nature path, walk it often. Walking is the easiest of all the activities and provides immediate results.

Run – Like walking, running can help you de-stress, but with the benefit of a cardio workout.

Dance – No standing in the corner for this one. If you can’t dance, take some lessons. Whether you want to jazzercise or do the tango, dancing will help you achieve a full-body workout, elevating your heart rate, and is one of the activities you can do with a group or alone.

Yoga – The benefits of yoga go well beyond stress relief. Yoga can help you learn to control your breathing and muscles, and the mental aspect that forces you to immerse and live in the moment.

Note: Before adding any physical exercise routine or activity to your schedule, consult your primary care physician. Some illnesses and conditions may be exacerbated by an increase in physical activities.

Fun Ways to Relax and De-Stress

Reduce your stress levels with a smile on your face. It’s no joke that laughter is healthy. The more you can engage in fun ways to decompress, the better your overall humor and well-being will be.

Get a Couples Massage – Let a professional work the stress and tension out for you; take your partner, family member, or friend out to get a couples massage. Visit yourfootpalace.com/couples-massage-athens-ga/ if in Athens Ga, or localwiki.org/atl/Foot_Palace_Massage_Spa_Braselton/ if you are located near Braselton, Georgia.

Read a Good Book – Get cozy and settle in for a good story. Reading stimulates your mind, and a good book can take you on a fantastic journey without leaving the comfort of your home.

Play Board or Card Games – Board games like Monopoly, Uno, and Scrabble aren’t just for kids. Make it a regular thing to get the family and friends around the table to play a game or two.

Go to a Comedy Club – Get some friends together and go to a comedy club. Laughter and good company are always great stress relievers.

Go Bowling or Play Laser Tag – Competitive physical activities with friends and family are a great way to decompress. Here, you combine skill with exercise while letting your stress go.

Relax Without Drinking Alcohol

While alcohol and some medication can offer temporary relief from stress and anxiety, there are risks of both physical side-effects and emotional dependencies.

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), around 20 percent of individuals suffering from anxiety also battle a substance use disorder and vice versa.

Your Health and Wellness are Linked to Your Ability to Relax

Stop letting day to day stress drag you down. You can make light-hearted and fun activities a part of your routine to help you decompress.

In this article, you discovered creative, athletic, and fun ways to shed daily stress and improve your health and well-being.

If you do not take steps to relieve daily stress, over time, your personal relationships, your ability to effectively communicate, and your overall health may be severely impaired. Go have some fun, enjoy a hobby or two, and exercise. You’ll be a better person for it.

Sources:
https://americanaddictioncenters.org/adult-addiction-treatment-programs/self-medicating
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2804629/
https://foh.psc.gov/whatwedo/eap/Stress_Relief_Newsletter.pdf