Working all day can leave you wiped out when it comes to heading home, but the last thing you want to do is just call it a day. Then the next thing you know it’s the next morning and you get into this vicious cycle or all work and no play.
Now, you have to take your work seriously, especially if you want to grow a successful business, but that doesn’t mean you have to eliminate all social activities and fun from your life. Doing that would drive you insane and it would lead to stress piling on your back, eventually collapsing you.
It’s always a good idea to find ways to relax and unwind after a long day of work. This helps to reduce stress and it’s also an effective method of recharging your batteries. Here are a few ways to help you spark some ideas of your own.
Spend time with family or friends.
“If you have a family then something as simple as having dinner together or going out to eat as a group is a great way to spend quality time together as well as pre-occupy your mind, taking it off work and your business,” says Darryl Howard, founder of the online resource that helps people make money blogging.
You can also stay in and do a group activity, like have a game night, where you play board games and just spend time interacting. In a day and age where we are glued to our phones and social media all day, something like this is a great way to interact and unwind.
Rotate each game night, allowing a new family member to pick the games played. You can even make it more interesting by awarding prizes.
Physical activity outside or at the gym.
A lot of people use the gym as their time to get away from work and to unwind at the end of the day. It’s also a great form of healthy weight loss, as sitting behind a desk all day and not exercising will lead to unwanted gains in the belly area. If a night time workout is best for you, then by all means take full advantage of it. The gym is often the best place to disconnect and recharge.
But, if you prefer to work out in the morning or if lifting weights just isn’t your thing, then you can do some other form of physical activity instead.
“Something like going for a bike ride or paddle boarding is also great, because it gets you outside and it involves physical activity,” says Ignacio Soria of CANN & Co. “If you are in an office environment all day working on the computer then the time outside and in the fresh air will be great for you.”
Netflix and relaxation.
There is nothing wrong with watching TV, so don’t feel bad if your favorite way to unwind involves the television and some good movies.
One of the most popular streaming services is Netflix and many times a good movie, from a new release or a classic favorite, is all that is needed to disconnect.
“Rest and sleep is vital for recharging your body,” says marketing agency CEO April Gillmore, whose ClickFirst Marketing’s services are tailored for businesses of all sizes and industries. “While you don’t want to veg out on the couch every night, there is nothing wrong with it once in a while. Sometimes you need to just plunk down and do nothing. Listen to your body. If it’s telling you to rest, do it.”
Cook dinner from scratch.
“Cooking can be one of the best stress relievers, and it’s something you can do with your significant other as well,” says Andrew Tran of anxiety blanket manufacturer Therapy Blanket. “It can be quite relaxing as well as satisfying, since you are creating something from scratch.”
You can carve out a few hours and dedicate it to this, from initial prep time to the actual meal itself. A lot of people get into cooking as a way to start a hobby, and they soon realize they truly enjoy it.
Many even say that cooking is therapeutic and relaxing. It’s something that you might not think you will enjoy until you actually give it a try.
Partake in a specialty hobby.
Do you like golfing? Bowling? How about painting? Any hobby that pulls your mind and focus away from work is something that you should make sure you allocate some time to each week.
“Many people will join a sporting league simply to have something to go to,” says Karen Anderson, probate application process specialist at The Probate Law House. “This forces them to commit and for many, they need to have that commitment to pull them out of the office.” Many self-employed people are so wrapped up in their business that they will not leave unless they have that commitment and other people counting on them showing up.
If you fall into this category then it’s a great way to leverage that pressure and commitment to get you away from work and focused on something other than work.
Read a book.
Reading is beneficial for a few reasons. It’s a great personal development tool and it can help expand your mind. It is also very relaxing to many people.
“If you are connected to technology all day reading allows you to stimulate your mind without technology,” suggests Pedro Del Nero of Vaporizer Vendor. “You read and make your own picture in your head.” This type of creative freedom is needed by many, and technology prevents a lot of free thinking.
They say the most intelligent people in the world read daily. So, doing so in the evening sure can’t hurt.
Write in a journal.
Before you cringe at the thought of more ‘work’ you can’t think of it like this, and if it would feel like work to you then this isn’t something you should consider. Remember, not every tip is going to be ideal for everyone. The key is to find things that work and are effective for you, personally.
For many people, writing is almost therapeutic, as it allows them to get thoughts and ideas off their mind and onto paper. This de-clutters the minds, reduces stress and is actually quite enjoyable to some people,” says top cosmetic dentist Brett Moore DDS, of Smile Design Dentistry. “You can write about anything you like; a hobby, and interest or just life happenings.”
