Switching off from work is a battle millions of us around the world face. And it really isn’t good for us.
Taking the stresses home from work can lead to bad moods that can damage relationships, and at its worst can even lead to addiction, as let’s face it, many of us turn to a glass of wine or a joint as a coping mechanism. That’s a slippery slope and before you know it you’ve got friends and family performing a drug intervention, all because you were unable to switch off from the stresses of your day-job.
Granted, it isn’t easy to switch off from work, particularly these days when remote working has also become the new normal. But it’s important to do so and take a bit of time to care for yourself.
That’s why we’ve put together a few ideas to help you switch off from work rather than your hand jumping straight for the bottle…
Create a post-work routine
Separation is key here and creating an after work routine will help you mark that separation effectively. Fill it with things that you enjoy doing and you’ll start to notice the difference as you transition from work life to home life.
Examples of things you could do include going for a walk or run, visiting the gym, listening to a podcast for half an hour or even having a shower or a bath to just relax and refresh for the evening ahead.
Do some breathing exercises
Similarly, take some time to do some breathing exercises. This may come from simply standing or breathing, or even practising meditation or yoga. The latter two have long been recommended by therapists and doctors to help ease stress and anxiety, and by adding it to your routine in the gap between finishing work and beginning your home life will help you no end in switching off.
Have a laugh!
Work is serious, and when you are spending from 9am until 5pm there, it’s no wonder you can take that serious nature home with you. It’s intense. Laughter is often the best medicine so try and lighten the mood straight after work.
There are a number of ways you can do this. On your commute home from work you could watch a comedy programme (if you’re not driving) or listen to a funny podcast or radio show to ease you out of work.
Alternatively, you could ring a friend for a chat, one who makes you especially laugh. It could be just the tonic you need to switch off after a hard day!
