How to De-Stress After Work: 11 Tips to Unwind

how to destress after work

The APA discourages fighting stress with fast food, alcohol or other unhealthy alternatives. Write down what stresses you out during the workday and how you respond. Perhaps morning traffic makes you late and cranky from the start, or a noon meeting causes you to forgo lunch for chips instead. Whatever it is, jot it all down, then take time to reflect on how you might respond to each situation in a healthier way. Stress-induced apathy, irritability and depression can further affect a person’s ability to maintain healthy relationships, a healthy diet and an exercise regimen, says Dr. Pratt. “All of which can lead to worsening mental and physical health,” he says.

Listen to Music on the Drive Home

This is a Calmer-led project, created to support 600,000 entrepreneurs and business teams in reducing stress and burnout by 2023. Stress manifests itself differently in each of us, so it may be worth reading up on stress and how to manage it effectively. The simple act of understanding how you feel, and how to cope, can provide welcome relief. Unless your job entails working on social media, closing all social media apps can provide instant stress-relief. Studies have shown that regular social media usage can have a negative impact on an individual’s wellbeing, so a simple fix is to limit your time on social media when at work. For most of our day, we don’t think about breathing – our body breathes for us.

how to destress after work

Download 3 Free Stress & Burnout Prevention Exercises (PDF)

Relaxation techniques can lower stress symptoms and help you enjoy a better quality of life, especially if you have an illness. There’s a reason why thousands of people have become obsessed with watching these oddly satisfying ASMR videos like soap and kinetic sand cutting. These types of videos are linked to mood management theory, and basically implicitly make us feel more calm.

how to destress after work

How to Keep Work Stress from Taking Over Your Life

  • And in these situations, stress can also join teams with anxiety, leaving you figuring out how to rein in both emotions.
  • Meditation, deep breathing exercises, and mindfulness calm stress and anxiety.
  • Sometimes stress can manifest into physical symptoms, like temporary hives, one-day headaches, or long-term weight gain.
  • With the right strategies, you can keep workplace stress to a manageable level.
  • The ride home from work can be stressful if you keep replaying the stresses of the day, or letting traffic stress you out even more.

“Anna confided in us about the overwhelming workload, especially the additional tasks assigned verbally, beyond the official work. I would tell her not to take on such tasks, but the managers were relentless. She worked late into the night, even on weekends…,” Augustine said. Memani said he has responded to the letter written by Anita how to destress after work Augustine to him and promised all support apart from more steps to improve the system. The company also issued a statement condoling the death of the employee. “We are deeply saddened by Anna Sebastian’s tragic and untimely passing in July 2024, and our deepest condolences go to the bereaved family,” Memani said in a statement.

Research, such as a 2021 study, suggests that journaling can be used to relieve stress on any occasion. By Elizabeth Scott, PhDElizabeth Scott, PhD is an author, workshop leader, educator, and award-winning blogger on stress management, positive psychology, relationships, and emotional wellbeing. Listening to music is also https://ecosoberhouse.com/ a known strategy for stress relief, and a simple one to do while sitting in an enclosed space. Mentally counting everything you have to be grateful for can not only make the time pass but can get you into a more positive frame of mind. It can also prime you to appreciate your loved ones more when you get home to them.

Focus on Breathing

  • Yoga isn’t only a popular exercise for all ages, but it’s also gaining traction for decreasing stress, anxiety, and depression.
  • Think about those little treats in life that put a smile on your face, and get more of them into your day.
  • Relaxation in the workplace is one easy way to lower stress levels, reduce absenteeism, and improve productivity.
  • Eating nutritionally balanced foods helps your body get essential nutrients to battle stress and maintain general well-being.
  • You may start by taking a few minutes each day to focus on being present and enjoying a simple activity — a short walk around the park or appreciating a meal at your desk.
  • It’s a process that lessens the stress effects on your mind and body.
  • Gratitude also reminds you of all of the resources you have to cope with stress, which can be quite empowering.

“They may have negative, unhelpful, intrusive thoughts or an urge to work when they aren’t on the job that interferes with their personal life,” she adds. Performance anxiety may also lead you to experience higher stress levels in the workplace. To better deal with job-related stress, consider maintaining optimal sleep hygiene. If you’re living with a condition that affects your sleep patterns, consider reaching out to a health professional for sleep management options.

how to destress after work

Drink a glass of red

how to destress after work

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