Taking time to relax after work doesn’t need to be described or justified; indeed, work is generally a means of funding our personal lives. But there are those of us that define our lives by work or professional development, whether due to working a dream job, or providing an essential service. In either case, it can be hard to leave work at work.
While this might not be an issue for some, it can present serious professional and personal problems. With many working from home, it is even harder to separate the stress of work from the sanctity of home life. Being able to switch off at home is vital for your health and wellbeing, but easier said than done – why is it vital, and how could you approach separating work from home?
The Importance of Switching Off
For those working high-pressure or dream jobs, work can follow you home in a number of ways. The trope of answering emails at the dinner table or even in bed will be a familiar one to many, for one. So too will the weight of a large project or difficult professional situation on the mind after a trying day. For some it is easy to see the problems here, but for others it is less obvious.
Remaining ‘switched on’ to work in these ways can have profound consequences in terms of both physical and mental health, to say nothing of the professional risks associated with such consequences. Bringing work home, whether as tasks or as stressful thinking, can increase the risk of stress-related burnout and of such conditions as Generalised Anxiety Disorder and depression.
Relaxing Activities
Relaxation is key to fostering a meaningful relationship with your time outside of work. High-stress situations can make it difficult to settle into personal time, and it can be difficult to find that post-work peace without actively partaking in relaxing activities. There are myriad activities that can help, such as drinking herbal teas or taking time to read and meditate.
Rituals can play an extremely important part in these, too. For example, the ritual of running a bath and preparing a warm matcha tea allows you space to settle into relaxation, and makes the acts of bathing and drinking much more effective at calming you down.
Try Exercising
Exercise is medically proven to assist with a lot of mental and physical ailments individuals may have. Whilst also helping these important areas, it also helps with directing your attention from work and onto an activity which requires focus. It doesn’t have to be anything demanding, it could be going for a leisurely walk after work or even a swim. But integrating exercise to your after-work regime, it will not only help remove yourself from any distractions, but also improve your physical and mental wellbeing, which will also improve your sleep, physical condition, self esteem etc. The benefits of exercise are worth it!
Cook enjoyable meals!
Cooking is another great way to switch off and turn your attention away from work. If you enjoy challenging yourself and enjoy creating/following recipes that are healthy, then cooking could be a great distraction.
There is plenty of different recipes to follow and meals to cook whether it’s for you, your partner, or your family. It can help you think of creative ways to integrate healthy foods into recipes which will only have a positive impact on your overall physical and mental health.
Changing Habits
Indeed, habit is an essential consideration when charting a path towards a distinct barrier between work and home. Some pre-existing habits might be enabling stressful behaviours, such as checking your phone in bed before you sleep.
Adapting these habits to promote relaxation, or adopting new habits to replace the old, can transform the shape of your evenings after work. Leaving your phone downstairs to charge overnight is one small habit you could adopt, allowing you to benefit from better sleep while forcing you not to check for work-related updates or tasks.
These are only a few different ways that can help you switch off from work. If none of these are to your liking, find something you enjoy doing! Whether it’s playing games, reading books, joining a club etc. There is plenty of ways to move your mind away from work.
