5 Ways to Relax and De-stress After a Long Day

We all have those days, the ones where the clock feels like it is standing still, or the days when you feel like nothing is going your way. It happens to all of us and usually is out of our control. What you can control, however, is how you take care of yourself and your mind after a day like this. Follow along for some simple tricks on how to decompress and destress after a long day.  
 
Make a Yoga Routine 
 
Yoga can be a great way for you to relax your mind and body. Not only does yoga give you a chance to stay fit but it can also help you ground your mind and become more in tune with your breath. Not sure where to start? Take a class with 532Yoga; they have beginner to advanced level classes to help you understand the ins and outs of yoga poses, which will help you learn some moves you can do before bed or in the morning to connect your body and mind. The stress is bound to leave your body as you learn to breathe through beautiful yoga positions and improve your overall wellness. The more classes you take the more knowledgeable you will become and more able to ground yourself and your thoughts. Make sure you always check your alignment with 532Yoga instructors before you try anything new.  
 
Focus On Self-Care 
 
After a long day, it is going to feel good to take off your makeup and let your hair down. Relax your muscles with a long hot bath, or a shower, and do some self-care. Find a face wash routine that leaves your skin feeling beautiful and clean. Wash away all of the negativity from the day. These nighttime routines are for you to prioritize yourself and let your body wind down.  Prioritize your hair as well. If you are in for the night, try a hair mask that will leave your hair moisturized and smooth for days after! Taking care of your skin and hair is something you can always do for yourself no matter what has happened during the day. Pamper and take care of yourself. You deserve it.  
 
Practice Journaling Daily 
 
Another simple way to wind down and relax after a long stressful day can be to journal. Sometimes you have so many thoughts in your head from the day that the best solution is to find a way to get those thoughts down on paper and out of your head. This way you can focus on the now and put today behind you.  
 
While you have the journal out, it can be an excellent chance for you to think about your future goals and set some intentions for tomorrow. This could be as simple as creating a checklist of things you want to do in the next 24 hours or setting goals for a month down the road. What do you want to have accomplished by then? 
 
If you are feeling as if your thoughts are taking too much control of how you feel day to day, then your stress could be leading to a bigger issue. As you are sitting with your thoughts before bed it might be the perfect time to assess if you should be talking to a medical professional. If you are feeling stressed every single day, it might be time for you to look into different types of therapy. Therapy might be the extra help you need to learn new strategies to handle your stressors every day. Taking the time to work with a therapist and establish new coping mechanisms for your stress will help you be able to unwind after a long day. 
 
Unwind While Reading 
 
A lot of times when people get home after a long day they just want to sit in front of the TV for hours and binge-watch their favorite show. Don’t get me wrong, I also have had days where I do the same thing. However, reading to de-stress can be a game changer, especially for your sleep habits, plus it also limits the amount of blue light and screen time you’re getting before bed. So grab a good book and get snuggled in bed. There are so many benefits to reading before bed, including how much it has proven to decrease stress. 
 
Find Someone to Connect With  
 
After a long day, finding someone to talk to and even just get a hug from can help you de-stress. Invite a friend over for a movie or game night. Maybe go out to dinner with a family member and treat yourself to your favorite delicious cuisine. Having someone to talk through your bad days with can help change your mindset before you are even in for the night.  
 
If you live alone or just want time to yourself that works too. Perhaps grab your furry friend and get some snuggles in or go for a walk and get some fresh air? As you are walking you can try some of the breathing techniques you’ve learnt in your yoga class to calm your mind and body. Having a companion can make you feel like you are not going through stressful days alone.  
 
We al have stressful, never-ending days, but next time you feel overly stressed and need to decompress, try out some of these techniques. Stress happens in life. It’s what you do to help yourself deal with the stress that matters. Take control of how you feel at the end of the day. 


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