INSIDE: How do you relax after working from home? This is a question that many people have on their mind these days. Working from home isn’t all sunshine and rainbows and it can be hard to separate work from home life when everything is in one place. These tips will help you!

Many people quickly discover that working from home is not as relaxing as they had imagined. The added distractions and the inability to put domestic problems behind you for a few hours when you head to the office can cause a lot of stress. You’re always in the office while at the same time always in home now. It seems like you can never “turn off” that other area of ​​focus. You might miss the time in between on that commute!

These feelings of dissatisfaction and disappointment can quickly lead to job burnout, stress, lack of sleep, and emotional instability. Work-from-home burnout is real, and you may be wondering how you decompress after working from home.

Wondering how to relax after working from home? How do you create that buffer between two worlds that need to stay far apart and yet never part? What is this elusive?work-life balanceThe ones you hear people talk about?

What is work-life balance?

A recent study has shown that WFH burnout it’s a real problem right now. Not only have millions more people been forced into a remote worker role they weren’t ready for, but we’ve also had to deal with a host of additional external stressors. So many things were thrown at us at once with no time to process it. At the same time, many of the usual activities we do to escape routine stopped. You may still feel like you are trying to catch up. You can’t even begin to imagine striking a work-life balance.

As we enter a new season, it’s the perfect time to reflect on what’s working and what’s not. Where are the places where you can set better boundaries for work, family, and yourself? How can you best schedule your days to make sure things get done and allow time to prioritize your mental health?

I know you probably opened this post because you were ready to start relaxing. My friend, however, if you don’t work on scheduling and boundaries, you will never be able to relax. It is very important that you work on the hard stuff first.

Plan your work day, even if it only starts by looking only at tomorrow. What specific tasks do you need to do tomorrow both at work and at home? Write everything. Once you can start to visualize progress, the stress of remote work will start to lessen. You will start to feel less like you are constantly running from fire to fire to feel a sense of accomplishment and balance.

How do you relax after working from home?

Even when you finish that to-do list, you’ll need a bit of time to decompress. Work-life balance often requires a little space to transition between roles. Which is why you may be missing out on that trip. It was a time to unwind from her work day and prepare for life at home. You can still create that space while working from home.

Let’s see how you relax after working from home…

1. Afternoon tea

Perhaps you used to relax after work over drinks with your coworkers. If that’s no longer an option or a desire, you can still enjoy some “me” time after your work day is done.

Invest in some high-quality teas. The low caffeine ones are best for this time of day. You can even choose one with the calming effects of lavender or chamomile. One thing I love about tea is that there are so many to choose from. Grab a variety pack and go wild. Find a comfortable chair in the sun, take a deep breath, and relax.

2. Journal

If you’ve previously dedicated your ride home or made a pit stop at a friend’s house to vent your daily grievances, you may feel like your day never fully unpacks. If you no longer have the private time to express all your grievances to a friend, put it in writing.

You may feel like your “Dear Journal” days are behind you, but studies have shown that journaling is a great way to deal with big emotions in a healthy way. It’s a great opportunity to work privately on things that are going on that you’re not ready to talk about with others. It is also a good exercise for the brain.

3. Go to the gym

No one questioned your going to the gym on your way to or from the office earlier. Nobody should now. Your physical health is an important part of your mental health. Getting moving will do great things for your stress level.

Do the time. Put it on your schedule. If you can’t make it to your local gym yet, create your own. Carve out a corner of your garage, basement, or living room for a yoga mat and a couple of soup cans for hand weights if that’s all you have.

If you have a smart TV available in your new workout space, find a fitness streaming app or even a YouTube video to follow. If you don’t have a TV, that’s not an excuse. Print out a printable exercise from Pinterest to use as a guide.

Make it a priority to exercise 30 minutes a day, five days a week, as the experts suggest. You no longer have to commute to work so you can find the time.

4. Ground yourself

I spent a lot of time outdoors this past year, even if I was just lying on the ground in the sun listening to sounds. It’s called grounding, and it’s a powerful thing. I encourage you to do some research and add it to your routine. Bonus: it’s free!

5. Read a book

When was the last time you sat down and read a book, for entertainment? I’m not talking about reading the latest paperback from a marketing guru. I speak of reading as an escape route.

Do you need an excuse? Some studies have shown that reading can reduce stress by up to 68%! And faster than other relaxation techniques. Wow!

Don’t choose a book that will only upset you more. That means no politics, no job, no end of the world. Find something that is fictional or covers a topic you are passionate about, like gardening or travel.

6. Call a friend

One of the biggest difficulties of being a remote employee is the isolation. As much as we complain about office politics and water cooler gossip, we eventually crave any in-person interaction. This is especially true in our current times. We were programmed to feel part of a community. We are social animals.

Social media and texting don’t compare to the intimacy of a real life conversation. We need to hear laughter. We need someone who cares to see wipe away our tears in a literal sense.

One of your top priorities when creating your work-life balance schedule should be spending time with someone close to you. Schedule a regular lunch date like you had in the old office days. Block off your Sunday nights for a marathon two-hour phone call to catch up on the week’s fights.

Isolation is one of the biggest causes of mental health problems. Do it for your health.

7. Meditation and Prayer

I have been a very anxious child since I was born. Every time my husband would say, “Calm down,” I would jokingly say, “I don’t understand this language you speak.” But, he wasn’t really kidding. I rarely felt calm and I certainly didn’t know how to get there.

In the past year, I have spent a lot of time learning to meditate. And I really felt that I had to learn. It really was a struggle getting my mind to focus on one thing, especially if that one thing wasn’t worry.

I found an app and got to work. And during my most anxious or depressing days this past year, I spent a lot of time in prayer and meditation. Talking and listening. More than anything else on the list above, this helped me the most. I hope it helps you too.

final thoughts

We hope these tips have helped you with the question “how do you relax after working from home?” Leave your own tips in the comments if you have one that works for you!