Well, another Monday is here, which means it’s the start of another work week. Mondays aren’t often easy or fun, but every week they come and every week we make it through. Between our jobs, our friends, our families and everything in between, there’s always something to drive us crazy. And if it happens on a Monday, well that’s just icing on the cake. When do we ever have time to slow down and relax?
As stressful as life can be at times, we can’t let it consume us; we have to give ourselves time to rest and recharge. It’s so important to take time to de-stress after long days at work or school, or even just after a full day of running errands and adulting. That can be pretty tiring and overwhelming sometimes, too. Even if it’s only for 15 or 20 minutes, making that time each day to de-stress is important to our health.
Here are 7 ways I love to de-stress after a long day at work!
I may not go through all seven of these every night, but I do try my best to do at least two of them before I go to bed.
Eat a good dinner // I try not to eat anything too heavy at night, but eating a good, healthful dinner is a great way to calm down and de-stress. Eating should not feel rushed; in fact, eating slowly will make you realize how full you are, sooner, so you don’t overeat.
Play with Maggie Kitty // She’s only a year and a half old, so she still has a ton of energy. She’s also super cute when she plays with her mouse toys and she pounces them like she’s on the prowl. Plus, the more I play with her, she’ll get tired and will sleep better at night, which means I sleep better, too.
How do YOU de-stress after a long day? Click To TweetCall my parents or a friend // So few people actually call people anymore; phone calls are becoming a lost art! I call my parents a lot, especially if I need to vent about something. It’s always nice to catch up with my friends from college or grad school when I don’t see or talk to them every day anymore.
Read a book // The experts say to turn off your devices and not look at a screen for at least half an hour before going to bed, so reading a book (or a few chapters of a book) is a great way to wind down before sleepy time. I always keep a book on my nightstand and will read a chapter or two to help me fall asleep. Right now I’m reading If You Find This Letter by Hannah Brencher and I love it so far!
Drink decaf or herbal tea // I’m really good about drinking tea every night when the weather gets colder, but it’s something I could definitely be better about year-round. I’m a huge fan of green tea, and chamomile is great to drink at night since it’s naturally decaffeinated. Bigelow’s “Sweet Dreams” tea is another good one for right before bedtime.
Bedtime yoga // This is one of my favorite ways to de-stress after work. Yoga or any good stretching routine is awesome to do right before bedtime (or any time of day, really, but especially at bedtime). Find a routine that really helps you focus on your breathing so that you can calm down and get in a “sleepy” state of mind.
7 ways to #destress after a long day Click To TweetWrite in a journal // I’m on and off a good journaler, and I really should write in a journal more often. It’s good for my anxiety. Writing–like with a pen and paper–is also great if you have restless hands and need to release some low-key energy before bed. It’s also great to let out any thoughts that have been worrying you so you don’t toss and turn all night.
With everything we have going on in our lives, it’s so important to take time to yourself to de-stress before bed. Remember that you should turn off your devices and screens at least half an hour before bed so your eyes can adjust and your mind can start de-stressing. That’s something I could really do better.
What are your favorite ways to de-stress after a long day?
