Step away from your work and make yourself a cup of tea – this could be followed by a tea meditation, or simply having a chat with a coworker who’s also on a tea break. If this task sounds daunting or you don’t have a good relationship with your boss, consider reaching out to someone in your company’s human resources department (if available). They can help you navigate the conversation and offer troubleshooting tips. A work-free staycation or trip a few hours out of town can help you reset. Try to keep your high standards in check by focusing on the effort you put into a project and not personalizing failure when you make a mistake. Workplace conflict can take a significant toll on your emotional well-being.
Craft and create
Unwinding after work can help you leave behind the stresses of the workday and relax. how to destress after work Let these tips help you create rituals that support your transition from the pressures of work to relaxation. Workplace stress can seriously affect your happiness and well-being. Since work takes up so much of our day, it’s important to find ways to manage this stress effectively to avoid burnout and other serious health consequences. Studies show that spending time in green spaces such as parks and forests and being immersed in nature are healthy ways to manage stress. Journaling may help reduce stress and anxiety and provide a positive outlet for your thoughts and emotions.
Go for a run or walk
- They can help you navigate the conversation and offer troubleshooting tips.
- Low psychological safety is directly linked to higher stress and lower job satisfaction.
- Having people you can rely on during tough times can alleviate some of the built-up tension.
- Playing an uplifting song while you make breakfast can help you start the day off feeling better prepared to interact with the people in your life.
Whether it’s knitting, painting, or making jewelry, crafting is a great way to unwind after work. Creativity-focused activities like these allow our brains release dopamine, which is a natural antidepressant. According to research, indulging our creativity not only bolsters our mental health, but our physical health, too. Reading is the perfect way to allow yourself to escape reality after work and dive into an entirely different world. Not only is it great for entertainment, reading can help improve your memory, increase your attention span, and reduce stress levels. By engaging in online therapy through Talkspace, you can learn valuable skills and ways to de-stress from work so you can take charge of your mental well-being.
- Unwinding after work isn’t just a luxury—it’s a necessity for maintaining mental and emotional balance in our lives.
- Setting aside time for self-care is necessary if you regularly feel overwhelmed by work.
- Listen to calming tunes or nature sounds to create a tranquil atmosphere, which can help in preventing work-related stress and anxiety.
- Human touch may have a calming effect and help you better cope with stress.
Listen to your favorite playlist
Just as it helps children relax and go to sleep when they have a bedtime ritual, having a post-work ritual is a great way to help yourself unwind after a stressful day of work. Even better, it can be a way to create a mental habit of relaxing your mind and letting go of job stress after a long day of work. While keeping feelings bottled up isn’t an optimal answer, when we spend what could be quality time with loved ones focused on all the stresses of the day, we lose more of our day to job stress.
If you’re having a hard time with an incredibly challenging work week, try asking parent friends if they can help carpool your kids to school on certain days. Creating clear boundaries between work and home life is essential to help you avoid potential job-related stress. Sometimes, feeling overwhelmed by work comes down to how organized you are. Keeping a journal to track your stress triggers and reactions may help. You can include people, places, and events that cause you a physical, mental, or emotional response.
If all of this is sounding a little too familiar, don’t let it stress you. It’s fairly common to stress about work when you’re not at work, so don’t blame yourself. Focus instead on how to shrug off stress and enjoy your life when you’re not at work. Engage in creative expression without decision-making or problem-solving tasks. I understand how freaking hard it can be to have a peaceful night if you’ve been grinding all day. As I near the end of this article—and, therefore, the end of my workday—I know I’m going to mull over the edits I want to make for the next hour or so.
- This week, try to notice how much time you spend complaining about work and see if this is the right amount of time for you.
- However, as with job stress venting in general, focusing too much on the stress created by difficult co-workers can rob us of the joy of our non-work lives.
- Give yourself realistic deadlines and work your way down the list.
- When we don’t unwind, stress can accumulate, leading to burnout, which is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion.
- Remember to leave all work-related stuff aside when you take these breaks.
Ways to Cope With Work Stress and Avoid Burnout
Do what you can to create a quiet, comfortable, and soothing workspace. Another surprising stressor at work is physical discomfort, often related to where you perform most of your daily tasks (such as your desk). Keeping yourself organized can also mean avoiding the negative effects of clutter, and being more efficient with your work. Not understanding your role in the workplace can be a source of stress. Trying to figure out and meet expectations can be exhausting.