5 Must-Try Tips to De-Stress After Work, Whether at the Office or Home with the Kids
After a long day at work we may feel exhausted, on-edge, and frazzled. If this is the case, it’s crucial to focus on de-stressing so that we can be present for ourselves and our family, for our health and wellbeing and to optimize sleep. You deserve to feel good after putting in the hard work at the office or home with the kids!
Want to know what you can do to de-stress? Here are my 5 tips:
1. Breathe
Practice deep breathing to help center yourself by inhaling relaxation and peace and exhaling stress, tension and overwhelm. Try to commit to 5 deep cleansing breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth. I like Dr. Weil’s 4-7-8 technique, which entails breathing in to a count of 4, holding for 7 seconds, then exhaling for 8 counts. You’ll instantly feel more relaxed!
2. Intention
Set an intention for your evening, preferably before you walk into your house, if possible. By setting an intention we decide to shift our mindset and think and act accordingly. How do you want to feel? What can you do to get there? Think of an intention that is positive, simple, achievable and one that you believe strongly in, and go with it. Some examples are: I see the good in each situation, I am present for my children, I am relaxed and grateful for my life, I am rejuvenated by spending time with my spouse.
3. Prioritize your Priorities
It’s important to identify your priorities and focus on what means the most to you. This may be practicing some self care, sitting down with your children to talk about their day at school or connecting with your husband or wife over dinner. Be intentional by focusing on what matters most.
4. Screen Break
Chances are high that you’re looking at a computer screen or cell phone frequently throughout the day. Take a break from the screens and let your mind and eyes rest. Studies show that the blue light emitted from these devices can disrupt sleep and cause daytime tiredness, so this is a prime opportunity to start downshifting the devices.
Dance it off to your favorite music!
5. Move your body
Find a way to move your body in some way to get the feel-good happiness and pleasure hormone, Dopamine, flowing! Not only will some form of exercise decrease your stress from the day at work, it also protects you from long term stress. I know what you’re probably thinking: “I have no time” or “I’m too tired.” I totally get it, but try to commit to something doable, even for just 1 minute. Try 30 jumping jacks, or 20 squats, 20 pushups and 20 crunches, a one minute plank, or dance to your favorite music (plus you can recruit your kids, too). Any little bit helps!
Bonus tip: If you need a little extra help managing stress, a few carefully chosen supplements can help. My favorites for this are Probiotics, Ashwagandha, Zinc and Magnesium.
>>>What are you doing to manage your stress? Let me know below!