If you find it difficult to wind down after a demanding workday try these 8 tips to help you shift from office to home mode.
Get Comfortable
As soon as you get in from work, change into different attire. This will have an immediate relaxing effect. Change into your most comfortable clothing once you get out of the shower. Pajamas are an excellent choice, especially if you get home from work late at night.
Take Time To Daydream
With instant access to information we seem to have lost the art of daydreaming. The daydreaming process is vital to the creative process as well as reordering the working memory and re-balancing our energy levels.
Take Care Of Your Body
Exercising is an excellent way to re-energize your body after a tiresome day at work. If you have a sedentary job that requires sitting at a desk for long hours, choose a form of exercise that involves moving your legs, like walking or jogging. If your job keeps you on your feet for hours on end, choose a gentle exercise that you can perform while sitting down such as stretching or yoga.
Eat Well
Eat something nutritious and make sure of drinking plenty of water. Avoid junk food or having anything full of fats. Vegetables, fruits and juices can be the best energy sources after coming back from exhausting job. Try to make the process of cooking a goal in itself. Just make sure you don’t stress with cooking just because you have to. If you’re exhausted, you should consider ordering food just for this night. But don’t make it a habit! It’s not good for you in the long run.
Pamper Yourself
Fill a hot bath with aromatic bubbles, play a soothing CD or tape, get a good massage to relieve those tight, tense muscles, or allow your self to take a power nap.
Read
Crack open a book or magazine and escape into it. It is easy to get caught up only reading from a computer screen or e-reader. Flipping pages will give your eyes a much-needed break from the screen, and non work-related content will help you forget any office woes.
Call A Friend Or Family Member
No texting. This is about having an actual voice-to-voice conversation. Surprise someone you haven’t seen or spoken to in a while. Make a list of topics or open-ended questions beforehand if it would make you more comfortable. End the conversation when it’s dying down. End on a strong note. Feel good about reconnecting.
Switch Off An Hour Before Bedtime
Allow yourself at least 60 minutes technology free time before you go to bed to “unload” the working memory before your head hits the pillow. This means not checking email or social networking before bedtime.
Never fall asleep with your laptop, iPad or smart phone switched on beside you. These measures will dramatically improve the quality of your sleep – you will need less REM (dreaming and information processing) sleep and have access to more nourishing, deep sleep.
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