how to unwind after a long day

So we’ve talked about tips on self care and we have also discussed creating a good morning routine to get you up and ready to tackle the day, but what about at the end of the day? Many of us have busy and stressful jobs and it is so important to find ways to switch off, and unwind. It is easy to be constantly thinking about work, especially when you work in a high pressure environment with sharp deadlines but it is important to be able to switch off, for your own sanity!

So if you struggle to find ways to switch off then keep reading, below are ways I unwind and switch off after a long day. I hope there is something here that you can introduce to your evening routines.

reflect on the day

I love to journal. I have mentioned before I have a diary come journal and I find it really helps keep my mind on track and my mental space healthy. After each day I write the best thing about the day, even when I have had a really bad day. When I lost by Billy Boodles I really really struggled, it took its toll on me, but every day I wrote something positive that had happened that day, even the day after, and I found it help keep me grounded, keep me out of that black hole of unhealthy self pity and refocused my mind on the good things at a time that was so hard.

After a hard day, just take 5-10 minutes after work, reflect on the day and remember that good thing about that day, amongst all the rubbish that had happened. It can be something such as ‘a certain person smiled at me’ or it could be ‘I got a pay rise’. Anything big or small that you felt was positive about your day I encourage you to write it in your diary or journal.

Also if something or someone really upset you get it off your chest, write it down in your diary, how it made you feel, why it made you feel such a way and what can you do to rectify feeling that way. Maybe that person didn’t intentionally not wave back at you, maybe they just didn't see you. With loosing Billy, I was so upset every day for a good week I wrote why I was feeling that why, I felt guilt as it was me who was walking him at that time, but I had to realise that it wasn't my fault, nor was it the drivers fault, but the nature of lurchers is they chase and run and that when they see something move they want to catch that thing. It wasn't anybodies fault but just an awful accident. By writing this down and writing down my feelings it really helped me combat those dark feelings of hurt, anger and upset. I really recommend this. Get the day off your chest out of you mind and onto paper. You can then reflect on this down the line but it is a really great way to end the working day.

podcast and walk

I know, I go on about walking and listening to a podcast in every aspect of wellness but I find it so helpful and I find it really helps keep me in a great state of mind. I tend to do my daily walk in my lunch hour but if I am feel particularly tense and my mind feels like it is about to explode I pop in my ear phones and off I go. It might only be 20 minutes to half an hour but it is a great way to really keep your mind healthy. Fresh air really helps to keep my mind and body healthy.

You are probably wondering why I always encourage you to listen to a podcast and not music, I suppose it is personal preference. For me I find listening to a podcast is like having a friend chatting to you. I find that listening to a podcast you can choose something that makes you laugh, something that will educate you or something that is just like listening to friends talk about topics that interest you. For me podcasts can bring so much more variety. But there will be people that will resonate with music much more, which is totally fine. Whatever your preference pick something that can help you just leave the day behind whilst you take in that dose of fresh air.

grab that bath

Grabbing a bath is something that really helps me unwind. Giving myself an hour after work to just have a little pamper is something that I find really works. I am left feeling relaxed and I know the next day I will still be feeling great after. My tip, grab your favourite exfoliator, I LOVE the Sol de Janeiro range, they have two amazing scrubs, the Brazilian Bod Buff all over Mask and Scrub and Bum Bum Body Scrub. The scent is incredible for one, but it also really buffs the skin, removes those flaky dry patches and leaves your skin feeling unbelievable afterwards. Scrub into your body and then submerge into your hot bath and soak the scrub off. Take this chance to read for half an hour or pop on some music. When you get out pat yourself dry and smother yourself in body butter, try the Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Cream. Your body will thank you, and you can thank me later. Those legs will the summer ready before you know it!

Grab a vino

I am not a huge drinker myself but sometimes just grabbing that glass of red or white or rose, whatever your preference, is just what is needed after a long day. I am not one to encourage anyone to turn to drink after a bad day but sometimes, after a lovely bath it is nice to treat yourself to that fancy wine and pour yourself a glass to unwind.

cook dinner

Something so simple, but really effective. I love cooking so I find it very relaxing cooking dinner for me and my fiancé. Grabbing a take away after a long day, full of stodgy fats and grease, won’t enhance your mood. It can leave you feeling bloated and lethargic which totally defeats the object of spending this time to unwind and relax. Filling your body with good wholesome food, getting those veggies in getting a good dose of that protein in your body, will make you feel ten times better, and when you feel better in your body, your mind feels better too. So with that glass of wine in hand get that oven on and start cooking. I really recommend Madeline Shaw’s recipe books, they are full of tasty, wholesome food with stacks of health benefits. To find out more about her and grab some tasty recipes then go visit her website HERE

For those of you that aren’t big cookers, don’t cook often or are new to cooking then I also recommend signing onto Hello Fresh. I have Hello Fresh delivered to my door 3 times a week for me and Dave and the food is simply delicious. All the ingredients are pre measured out so it’s really time effective, the instructions are really easy to follow and the food tastes amazing. It is a great way to start to get into cooking. I find them so useful when I have been for a work out in the evening or Dave is going to be a little later back as they are quick and easy to make. I have to admit I was a little sceptical at first but I really rate it. It also helps to introduce a little more variety to your diet with all their variety in recipes.

netflix and chill

I enjoy nothing more than getting on the sofa with Dave and my dog Jag and watching some TV for an hour or so. Netflix obviously has lots of choice, but I also like to check into Sky Movies. Whatever your choice, get a good movie or start a great series with your partner, dog or just you and your glass of wine and enjoy doing absolutely nothing but getting lost in the plot of whatever you are watching.

get to bed at a reasonable hour

Being busy at work, having a hectic day, you need to make sure you are getting plenty of sleep. I get to bed around 9:30pm. I take a soothing drink to bed with me, I love a Lavender and Chamomile tea. I encourage you to read for half an hour before you fall to sleep, it really helps to get those eyes heavy and just enables you to totally forget about the day. Another thing I recommend to do is a sleep meditation. I have spoken about sleep cove in my Podcast Blog but I really can’t recommend it enough. Just to get that really deep sleep, to forget about a particularly stressful day at work, it is the best thing I have found to help. Getting a good night sleep is so important for every evening, but if you have had a super gruelling day it is even more important to make sure you give your mind and body time to totally recover.

I think that pretty much concludes the series on tips for looking after yourself and giving yourself time throughout the day and one-off treats for self care and self love.

I hope that in this mini series of tips and tricks I find useful for me in my everyday life, you find something for yourself. It is so important to look after ourselves and keep our minds and bodies healthy, because if we don’t look after ourselves how can we possibly look after anyone else.

I hope you are all having this wonderful spring weather and enjoying a little more freedom with our second phase of the road map out of lockdown well underway.

Look after yourselves and until next time

Maisie

XoXo