How to Decompress and Alleviate Stress After a Long Day

It’s a common question, how do I decompress and alleviate stress after a long day.  We live in a society where we are always on the go. Work and personal responsibilities often leave us overstimulated and unable to decompress after a long day. When you find yourself in this situation, you may find that it often leaves you powerless in your efforts to focus and sleep. The exhaustion and inability to slow down causes your stress and anxiety levels to rise, and thus begins the vicious cycle.

Unfortunately, this symptom of a high-level, executive career is almost impossible to avoid. Therefore, it is essential to your health, well-being, and career, that you take the time to discover strategies that allow you to decompress and alleviate stress after a long, exhausting day.

1. Limit Screen Time

When much of your career requires you to work on a computer, turning to another screen tends to exasperate your stress. Your brain needs a screen break. Your brain needs different types of stimulation, so when you need to decompress, seek out activities that give you and your mind the opportunity to rest from the demands of your job.

2. Exercise

There is much research that indicates the power of exercise to ease your stress and increase your productivity and happiness. When you find that you are tense or stressed from a long day, exercise is your best answer. It gives you the opportunity to get up and moving and helps your body and mind recover from a stressful day.

3. Breathe

The notion that breathing—something so automatic to the human condition—is something that can help you decompress may sound odd but being present and focusing on your breathing can help you calm down. To decompress, take a minute or two to sit still and be mindful about your breathing. Close your eyes, relax your body, and just focus on taking deep breaths. A minute or two of this simple activity, helps you slow down to be present, centred, and focused.

4. Do Something You Enjoy

Taking a walk, listening to music, going to a museum, doing something creative, reading a book or any other activity that brings you joy will help to decrease your stress levels. Taking these moments to focus on yourself provides the much-needed relief from a taxing day.

5. Pamper Yourself

Sometimes when stress has built up, it is necessary to pamper yourself to relax. For many, a massage is a great way to gift yourself the time to be quiet and present while relaxing your mind and body. If a massage is not for you, consider other options that benefit in the same way.

With a busy, often overstimulating schedule, it is imperative that you take the time to care for yourself. Discovering what works best for you to decompress is essential to your overall health, well-being, and happiness. Additionally, encouraging team members to take the time to decompress makes them feel valued and excited to be a part of your team.