Some ways to relieve work stress
- Unwind on Your Commute
- Change Out of Your Work Clothes
- Take Time Alone
- Sweat Out Anxiety
- Wash Your Hands
The minute you step out of the office, your downtime officially begins. Take advantage of it by losing yourself in activities you can do in transit — like finishing a book on tape or plugging into a relaxing playlist. “Instead of ruminating over the events of the day, focus on things you enjoy that have nothing to do with work,” says Orma. By the time you reach your front door, you’ll feel a million miles away from it all.
What we wear subconsciously influences our thoughts and actions, says Orma. So hanging up that suit and tie and putting on jeans and a sweatshirt cue your brain that the workday is over, and it’s time for some R&R. “Wear the clothes you associate with de-stressing, and the job stress will be pushed aside,” he says.
“To escape the pressure and anxiety of the workday, a lot of guys need to be left alone for 30 minutes or so when they first arrive home and decompress, especially if their work involves dealing with lots of people,” says Orma. Tell your partner you’ll help her with dinner later and grant yourself permission to lie down, take a shower, or just veg. “There’s something about doing nothing that recenters the brain and helps you transition out of work mode,” he adds.
If you’re a morning workout man, here’s an argument for moving it to after the day is over: Being physically active eases the tightness and tension in your muscles that has accumulated over the last eight hours, says Roy L. Cohen, New York City–based career coach and author of The Wall Street Professional’s Survival Guide. Plus, exercise bathes your brain in a feel-good cloud of endorphins, and it pumps your mood as well — two things that help you shake off work anxiety.
The workday may be over, but you can’t stop thinking about a decision you made in a meeting, or you’re doubting your judgment with a client. Try this trick: wash your hands with soap and water. A University of Michigan study found that the simple act of washing your hands symbolically cleanses you of the need to justify a decision. A little weird, sure, but the research suggests that hand washing lets you wipe the slate clean, get over your doubts, and move forward.
Category: Features, Wellness and Complementary Therapies
