27 Ways To Relax After A Stressful Day At Work [Infographic]

Shane Dobbing https://www.sleepypeople.com 6m 1,390 #stress

The views of this article are the perspective of the author and may not be reflective of Confessions of the Professions.

How To Relax After Work

While many of us try hard to not let our professional lives affect our personal lives, sometimes it feels impossible to stop from happening.

Work related stress is often the reason for it because it can be so hard to forget the trials and tribulations of our work day once we get home.

Widespread Stress-Related Issues

If you feel like this then don’t worry because you’re not alone. The Mirror recently reported that a study found that one in four workers take time off work with stress related issues.

Stress doesn’t just frustrate us at the dinner table though and can be something which lingers right up top bedtime.

In fact, the same study also found that two-thirds of workers are kept awake by stress relating to their profession.

Sleep Deprivation Study

Sleep deprivation is becoming a very serious issue around the world and in the UK in particular. It was recently reported on BBC News that a new study found sleep-deprived workers are currently costing the UK economy £40 billion each year.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, the recommended amount of nightly sleep for an adult lies somewhere between 7 and 8 hours. Getting this much means that we wake up refreshed and able to function to the best of our ability the following day.

However, the study leader Marco Hafner made it clear that the problem was too many people are getting less than 6 hours each night.

He also concluded that if those who were getting less than 6 hours managed to get between 6 and 7 hours per night, the UK economy could see a boost of £24 billion.

Being kept up at night because you can’t stop worrying about work is far from fun so it’s best to find ways to deal with it.

Thankfully, sleepypeople.com has created an infographic full of actionable tips to turn your evening routine into one which doesn’t suffer from work-related stress.

It’s called ‘27 Ways to Relax After a Stressful Day at Work’ and looks at everything from hobby advice to diet tips. Take a look below and see if you can improve your evening routine.

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27 WAYS TO RELAX AFTER A STRESSFUL DAY AT WORK

Do you feel like you’re always stressed out after a long day at work? You’re certainly not alone. In the past 12 months, one in four employees took time off work due to stress, with two-thirds admitting that it keeps them up at night.

Whether you are stressed about work, home, money, or any other issue, it’s important to address it before it becomes such a big problem that it leads to long term sickness.

Luckily there are plenty of things you can do to help regain a sense of calm when you get home. Instead of pulling your hair out and lying awake worrying, try some of these ideas to relax after a difficult day.

HAVE A BATH

Many people’s- go-to stress relief activity is to have a nice relaxing bath, and with good reason. Treat yourself to some luxury bath bombs or some aromatherapy oils!

CHANGE INTO YOUR FAVORITE PYJAMAS

Change out of your work clothes when you get home. Put on something comfortable for relaxing at home in, it will make you feel much better.

LIGHT SOME CANDLES

Light some scented candles. Calming comforting scents can really help us to unwind. You could even turn off the lights and sit by candle light.

MAKE YOURSELF LAUGH

Watch something funny, or speak to a really hilarious friend or family member. Laughing is a great way to relax and beat stress!

MEDITATE

Many people meditate daily as a way of coping with stress, and it really does work. You can download apps for your phone which will take you through guided meditation if you’ve never done it before.

PRACTICE YOGA

Yoga is fantastic for mind, body, and spirit. There are certain poses said to reduce stress more than others, and it’s a really good way to stay in shape while calming the mind.

PRACTICE MINDFULNESS

Practice mindfulness. Remind yourself periodically to focus on your breathing, surroundings, and feelings, and just accept the present moment without judgement.

COUNT BACKWARDS

Counting backwards is a known way to relax. When feeling stressed or worried, try slowly counting to 10 and then back again to calm down.

RUB YOUR FEET OVER A GOLF BALL

You can get an impromptu relaxing foot massage by rubbing your feet back and forth over a golf ball. Trust us; it’s a fantastic stress-buster!

BRUSH YOUR HAIR

Repetitive motions such as running a brush through your hair can cause the body to relax and do so quite quickly as an added bonus.

DRINK HERBAL TEA

Have a warm comforting cup of herbal tea. Avoid caffeine, but things such as camomile, valerian root, lemon balm, and passion flower have been found to reduce stress.

TREAT YOURSELF TO CHOCOLATE

Just a square (about 1.4 ounces) of chocolate can calm your nerves. Dark chocolate regulates levels of the stress hormone cortisol and stabilise metabolism.

EAT A SPOONFUL OF HONEY

Aside from being a natural skin moisturiser and antibiotic, honey provides compounds that reduce inflammation in the brain, meaning it fights depression and anxiety. Eat a spoonful or melt into your favorite warm drink.

EAT SOMETHING DELICIOUS

Treat yourself to your favorite meal. Cooking is a great way to relax, and it is both creative and productive. Or if all you can face is flopping on the sofa and ordering a pizza, go for it!

CHEW GUM

Chewing gum is a surprisingly quick and easy way to beat stress and just a few minutes of doing this can reduce anxiety and lower cortisol levels.

DO SOME EXERCISE

Exercise is a really great way to de-stress. Hit the gym, go for a swim, or take a fun class. Maybe you enjoy running, or love dancing. Find a type of exercise you enjoy doing!

GO FOR A WALK

You may not really be into exercise, but going for a walk can still be a great way to beat stress. Just getting outside and into the fresh air can help, it doesn’t need to be strenuous.

READ A BOOK

Completely losing yourself in a good book is a fantastic way to take your mind off everything. Escape to another world for a while and leave your stress behind.

LISTEN TO RELAXING MUSIC

Either create your own, or find a playlist with relaxing music to help you unwind. Or maybe put on your favorite album and have a good singalong!

PLAY VIDEO GAMES

Video games don’t demand much of us, and are a great distraction. Playing a few hours of a game is a great way to escape to another world!

DRAW OR PAINT

Doing something artistic is a great way to take a break from your stress. Using colours is soothing, and you can even buy adult colouring books these days!

KNIT

Knitting is a great activity for reducing stress. It has the same benefits as meditation, and the sense of achievement for finishing a project will make you feel good too.

SPEND TIME WITH PETS

Pets are good for our health, with studies indicating that pets can lower blood pressure, and levels of stress hormones such as cortisol. And what’s nicer than a cuddle from a furry friend!

PLAY AN INSTRUMENT

Another creative hobby that’s a great stress buster is playing a musical instrument, or even singing. If you don’t already play one, maybe look into music lessons!

PHONE A FRIEND

Whether you need to vent about your day, hear about theirs to take your mind off your own stresses, or you just really make each other laugh, phoning a friend or loved one can really help.

WRITE A TO-DO LIST FOR TOMORROW

Write down loose ends that you need to pick up the next day, or any little jobs you need to do at home. Having it written down will help your brain stop worrying you’ve forgotten something and give you a chance to relax.

WRITE A JOURNAL

Similar to talking to a friend, getting your thoughts out onto paper can help you to vent and get things out of your system, so that you can relax.

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