Anyone with a stressful job knows how hard it is to shake off the office when you get home from work. Technology makes it easier than ever to get phone calls, emails, or texts, and home offices provide a place to keep working after hours.
Image credit: marin | FreeDigitalPhotos.net
With all these connections to your job, it’s hard to just turn it all off and live your life. Everyone needs a healthy break from their job for a space of time. The last thing you would want to do is bring home a sour mood to ruin everyone’s day.
Here are some tips to help make your home a bastion of peace so you can relax after work:
Turn off the phone
Your phone can be a lifeline to the hectic workplace but not if it’s not on. Unless you’re expecting an important call, turn off the cell and set it aside. Avoid checking your work email when you are at home. Make conversation with your family or friends and truly be where you are.
Enjoy your home surroundings without thinking about your job.
Have fun
Unwind with one of your favorite hobbies or something that will distract you in a pleasant manner. Do something relaxing and enjoyable, like taking a walk, going bowling, or renting a new DVD you’ve been wanting to see. Even going out for ice cream or playing ball with the kids can be a great way to relax and de-stress after a long day at work.
If you socialize with coworkers, avoid discussing your job.
Reduce distractions
Sometimes, people go to work with a load of stress on their backs. This can be alleviated by reducing the distractions while you are at work. For example, pets owners in northern Virginia often use boarding kennels and day care facilities while at work to make sure their pets are taken care of during the day.
This peace of mind can help make your work time less stressful and, in turn, help make your home more relaxing. You might even consider giving your dog a little vacation by putting it up in a boarding kennel after work for a day or two.
Canine friends are lots of fun. They can be demanding, too. Instead of spending your evening grooming, exercising, or training the family dog, let someone else mind the pet while you relax.
Do something creative
Take up a fun hobby or try something new. Build a birdhouse, paint a landscape, or learn yoga. There are many exciting activities to try until you find one that you really enjoy. Do it alone or with your spouse, or even a friend. This can be something that you look forward to after work hours.
Volunteer
If you have excess energy and can’t relax much in the evening, donate some of your time to a meaningful charity. If you like sports, coach Little League. If you enjoy books, read to nursing home residents. Whatever your passion, spend some time sharing it with others, and you will feel the stress melt away after a hard day at work.
Socialize
Get together with friends to laugh or enjoy an event. Doing things as a group can make an activity even more meaningful. Plays, concerts, or just having a card game will promote bonding and encourage laughter, which is an effective stress buster. This friendly form of distraction will help you relax and take a load off.
It is important to remember how to relax after work, or you will get burned out. Follow tips like these to leave work at the office and enjoy loved ones on the home front. Make your evenings and weekends carefree and enjoyable so you can go back to work feeling refreshed.
Meghan Belnap
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