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How to relax after work:
Relaxing after a long day
In today’s post, I am going to be sharing 7 ways for how to relax after work. Whether or not you have a job that requires you to be out of the house the majority of the day, it is important for your health to switch off after a certain time and relax and recharge your batteries.
Let me paint a scene here… You come home from a long day at work. Find whatever food you can get ahold of. Lay down on the sofa and start binge-watching your favorite TV show. Next thing you know, it’s been hours and it’s bedtime and you’re exhausted. And even though you didn’t do a whole lot after work, you wake up shattered the next morning.
Does this, in any way, sound familiar? Or did it just used to happen to me?
I used to think that doing nothing after coming home from work would get me relaxed and energized for the next morning, but that wasn’t the case at all for me!
Thankfully, I have found a few daily habits that really have helped me relax and recharge my batteries after work. I hope these ideas help you out as well, and if you have any other ways to relax after work, or after a long day out, do leave them in the comments! I’d love to read them.
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7 Ways To Relax After Work
Put everything back where it belongs
This might not sound very relaxing, but it’s actually going to help you relax later. When you get home, put your clothes back on the hangers or in the laundry basket, put your shoes away and put your work bag where you will be picking it up from in the morning.
What this does is it eliminates the need for you to have to pick up after yourself way later in the evening when you’re already exhausted. This way, you get it out of the way right off the bat.
Read a book
Reading is one of the most relaxing things you can do after a long day at work, especially if you’re an avid reader already!
There aren’t many things as relaxing as curling up with a good book and forgetting all about your busy day at work.
Most days you will catch me reading personal development books, and currently, I’m reading Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert and What I Wish I Knew When I Was Twenty by Tina Seelig. To learn about some of my all-time favorite books, click here.
Start a new hobby
A great way to unwind after school or work is to do something that stimulates your brain or body. This is where hobbies come in! Start a blog, take up yoga, learn how to sew, or do anything else that makes you feel fulfilled and happy.
The best part about hobbies is that they can be worked on for long periods of time, so you could work on them every day if you wanted to!
Start a journaling practice
I started to journal sometime last year and it has completely changed my life. I highly recommend journaling, especially after a long day at work, and putting your thoughts on paper.
Not only is it therapeutic but it also lets you work on your goals, learn from your mistakes, and clarify your thoughts and feelings.
You can check out my post on 50 journal prompts here to get some ideas on where to start with journaling!
Have a self-care evening
Self-care should be on everybody’s to-do list when they get home after a long day. The best part of self-care is that it can be anything that YOU want it to be!
Whether your idea of self-care is going for a run, baking chocolate chip cookies, or having a luxurious bubble bath, do something that is going to make you feel good about yourself.
Find whatever food you can get ahold of. Lay down on the sofa and start binge-watching your favorite TV show. Next thing you know, it’s been hours and it’s bedtime and you’re exhausted
For a list of 60 easy self-care ideas you can start incorporating into your relaxing nighttime routine, click here.
Scent up your space
A nice-smelling aroma throughout your space can definitely help you relax and start unwinding after a long day. If you’re into candles, Yankee Candles are some of my favorites. My personal picks from them are the Fresh Cut Roses, Home Sweet Home, Pure Linen, and for the ultimate relaxation, Lavender.
However, I have recently become obsessed with essential oils in my diffuser. Not only are they healthier to breathe in than candles, but you can make so many different scents, depending on what you choose to put in your diffuser.
Spend time in silence
One of my favorite ways to relax is by enjoying the silence. My day job is very noisy so when I get home, all I usually want is silence.
I have recently added meditation to my daily routine and can’t recommend it enough. I usually find my guided meditations on YouTube.
If you are someone who doesn’t really like meditating, simply laying down on the couch and giving your eyes a rest will suffice.
Great tips. My Mum bought me the Fearne Cotton Happy Place gift box for Christmas which came with some lovely room and pillow sprays and I’m loving using them at the moment. I really need to learn how to switch off properly after I stop working for the day x
Ooh that sounds great! I love linen sprays and own way too much haha. I also have the problem of trying to keep working when I know I shouldn’t but I’m way better than I used to be.
Weirdly, putting everything back and making your space tidy makes such a difference! Our favourite thing to do after work and dinner is to turn the lights off, light the candles and incense, put on PJs and get a blanket, and then settle down to some gaming time together. Very Hygge and makes me feel really relaxed!
It does, doesn’t it?! I think it has something to do with the satisfaction of knowing you don’t have to get to it later on that makes a difference. And that sounds like a very relaxing nighttime routine!
I’m always looking for new ways to relax & these are all SO good! You reminded me that I need to get some more essential oils because my house smelling like fresh cut roses sounds amazing right now! 🥰
Wait…there are essential oils that smell like roses?! 😍
I love to do each and every one of these hacks! Aromatherapy is at the top of my charts 🙂
I’m definitely with you on the aromatherapy! 🙂
Great ideas here. Funny, my husband told me this morning I need a self care night soon… he is right. Life has been busy busy!
Your husband sounds lovely!
Always enjoy coming across and reading your posts. I love how you show that winding down doesn’t have to take loads of time or money! Love the idea of having a self-care evening (especially on a Friday evening!) and there’s definitely something satisfying about just tying and organising everything in your room!
Aw, thank you so much! I’m so happy you enjoy them. 🙂
These are great tips! I do practically all of these before bed and it really makes me feel like I had a productive evening, but also a relaxing one. I need to get in the habit of journaling more though. Fabulous blog post!
This is a great post! When I do all of these things before bed I feel more productive and relaxed! One thing I could do more of, however, is journaling. I always seem to forget to do it. Fabulous tips!
Journaling definitely helps me relax and unwind! 😊
So many hoof tips and so many that are needed for me right now!
Rosie
loverosiee.co.uk
Your blog is one of my favourites at the moment, because you are always giving me gentle reminders to really commit to these practices. At the start of 2020 I made a promise to myself to get more in line with myself, by making time for me and making my mental/emotional/spiritual health a priority. Every single one of these tips is something I’m actively working on, so thank you for the reminder of that!
I’m so happy to hear that, Bethany! Thank you so much for your kind words. 😊
I love these ideas! will have to remember them in future
I’m only in from work so I definitly needed this!