Let’s chat about how to decompress after a hard long day — something we seem to be seeing a lot more of lately.

I hope you’ve landed upon this post in a zen-like state of relaxation but figure that’s very likely not the case. After all, is anyone really feeling “zen” these days? Doesn’t seem like it.

So no worries. If you’re not currently in a relaxed state of bliss — you are 100% not alone.

Without dragging through all the details, I think we can agree we find ourselves in tough times! And in navigating it all, it’s important to make the time to care for ourselves because if we don’t? Things will only get worse and put us at risk of complete burnout. To avoid that from happening, I thought we should sit back, take some deep breaths and discuss ways to decompress when it starts to feel like… A LOT.

How to Decompress After a Long Day

Now, I have to admit I’m not completely an expert on the subject and I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to feeling totally burnt out myself from time to time.

But over the years, I’ve really learned to let go at the end of a hard day and do my best wherever I can to separate myself from whatever situation is stressing me out. I remember many times in my younger years where I pushed myself to an intensely stressed out state. So much so, I would struggle to focus on one single thing because my mind was racing a mile a minute with so many different concerns. Everything seemed so PRESSING. Top priority! On red alert!

Fortunately trial and error has shown me ways to diffuse the situation whenever I catch myself feeling this way and today I wanted to share some tips in case they can be of help to you! Hopefully the recommendations below will help you know how to decompress after a long hard day or when things start to feel all a bit too much.

OBSERVE NATURE AND WILDLIFE

How to decompress after a hard day? If you told me I’d recommend watching birds a few months ago as an answer – I don’t think I’d believe you. But this is something that I’ve found so helpful over the last couple months!

Sitting outside at the end of a long day, taking in the fresh air and observing wildlife has a way of really bringing me back to center. Watching birds fly to and fro has proven to be a surprisingly great way to combat stress and unwind from all the many things keying us up this year.

PUT YOUR PHONE ON AIRPLANE MODE

Recently I did a full digital detox over a weekend, and it was bliss! That pattern of constantly being on a phone, reading all the news alerts and tuning into everything happening on social creates a lot of noise. So it makes sense that tuning out that noise is a great way to give yourself time to decompress and let your mind be still.

While pressing responsibilities might get in the way of your ability to completely disconnect from it all, you can turn your phone on airplane mode. In doing so, you won’t be constantly called upon to look at your phone because of alerts and notifications. You’ll be able to have some uninterrupted time to recharge, clear your mind and unwind.

WATCH THE CHEESIEST MOVIE YOU CAN FIND

Trust me, it’s rare that I would ever recommend watching something like a Lifetime or SyFy movie — but alas here we are. Sure, you can also watch a favorite movie or television show of yours but there’s something really fantastic about watching a completely over-the-top and absurd movie.

When I’m feeling particularly fried, I’ll pop on the Lifetime Movie Network where things like “Dating a Sociopath” and “The Nanny’s Secret” can cure any woes with their complete ridiculousness.

READ A FICTIONAL BOOK

I’ve always found that reading is an excellent exercise in mindfulness. Reading a fictional book in particular, is an especially great way to decompress at the end of the day.

While reading fiction, your imagination is engaged as you visualize the characters, setting and action of the story. It’s a great way to redirect your attention in a positive way. Reading is also a great activity to do before bed, setting you up for more restful sleep — which is so important!

CREATE

I’m a big believer in hobbies and passion projects. Everyone needs to have at least one thing in their life that they love doing merely for the joy of doing it. Tapping into your creativity and creating can manifest in so many ways, all capable of helping you decompress at a time when you need it most.

Plant flowers in your garden, prepare a delicious recipe, sketch in a sketchpad, paint something, search Pinterest for a seasonal DIY project, write a short story. Truly, the options are endless when it comes to what you can create! You’d think the act of devoting your attention to creating something when you’re burnt out would be just added pressure on your plate — but really? It fills you up. Truly!

Thank you so much for reading! Knowing how to decompress after a hard day is like having little Aces in your back pocket. I hope some of these ideas will help you recharge and reset. Sending love! x