5 ways to relax your mind after a busy day
After a busy day in the office, it’s important to have some downtime in the evening just to yourself. Here are a few ideas of how you can enjoy your evenings and switch off for a while.
- Soothe the senses
Switch off stress after a long work day by indulging in aromatherapy. Essential oils are often used to enhance other relaxing activities such as baths and spa treatments, but the scents themselves are also thought to reduce cortisol levels and anxiety.
Experiment with balms and sprays with extracts of plants shown to have these calming properties such as lavender and camomile. They can be applied to the body or fabric like pillowcases. You can also use diffusers to fill your home with your chosen scents.
- Use your creativity
Especially when you have worries, practising creative pursuits is an effective exercise to relax the mind. Whether you’re painting and sketching, crafting, playing music or knitting, these activities provide distraction from unwanted thoughts and enable you to explore your emotions in a safe setting. They can also help you express feelings that are difficult to put into words.
- Unwind with puzzles
Relaxation isn’t always about switching off: sometimes engaging your brain differently is an equally efficient way to wind down after work. After hours of manual work or creative tasks like writing and design, attempting logical challenges can help you refocus and recharge. Completing the puzzles also gives you a sense of achievement and releases the happy hormone dopamine.
Mathematical brains will enjoy sorting the numbers in sudoku, or you can try crosswords and polygons if you have a way with words. If traditional puzzles aren’t your thing, you can play modern logic games online or download a bingo app to play a few rounds of different bingo-style games.
- Cook a delicious meal
Filling your home with cooking sounds and smells instantly creates a sense of peace. In fact, it’s a favourite technique of home sellers to make their space feel immediately inviting and cosy.
Round off stressful days by cooking a delicious meal using fresh ingredients and aromatic herbs and spices, or baking a treat to enjoy during the week or share with your family, friends and colleagues. You can find tried and tested recipes online or ask loved ones to recommend dishes based on your favourite foods.
- Move your body
The body and the mind are inextricably linked, each affecting the other in many ways. Moving your body through exercise or gentle stretching can help rewire your mind, providing perspective on burdens and lowering stress levels so you go into the next day recharged. Movement can also aid sleep which is essential to managing mental wellness.
Explore different types of exercise to find what works best for you. This could be heavy lifting in the gym, flowing yoga sessions, HIIT classes or testing cardiovascular challenges such as running. A small five-minute stretching session before bed can also work wonders.
