Work and school have the tendency to wear us down and eat away at our spirits. We begin to feel the burden of the pressures that life places on us and we shut down as they become too much to bear. It's important for us to find ways to decompress in order to keep our mental health in peak condition.
It can be hard to think of ways to do this, but luckily, we have come up with 10 things for you to try. These tips aim to relieve stress and anxiety that has a tendency to wear us down and help us find our way to our very own happy place. Keep reading to learn about 10 tips on how to decompress after a tough week!
10 10. Invest in a Mini Zen Garden
A mini zen garden gives you the power to manipulate sand with a mini rake. It might not sound particularly appetizing. There is no right or wrong way to rake your patch of sand, and it can have meditating effects.
You can use this product at home, but it also makes for a great accent piece on your desk at work. Your mind will feel free after your long week as you decompress and destress with the help of a rake and some sand.
9 9. Take a Long, Hot Bath
A bath is a perfect way to relax after a particularly long week, but it can even help decompress after a grueling day. The warmth of the water and the steam exfoliating your pores will help you release all of the pent up anxiety and stress you have been harboring throughout the week.
You might even consider adding a bath bomb, bubbles, or essential oils to enhance the experience. This can even help you fall asleep faster, which is an added bonus after an, especially terrible week.
8 8. Watch Some Funny Videos
There are those who say losing the tech, but they have obviously never seen a slew of funny videos after a long day. You can find numerous personalities who cater to a variety of interests on the internet from pets to gaming who will leave you with a good long laugh which will brighten anyone's day.
The day will end with you filling your home with laughter and a body that has decompressed after a long week spent at the office.
7 7. Pull Out the Arts & Crafts
There are some of us who may not have an artistic bone in our body, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't keep trying. Arts and crafts can help us decompress after a long week as we focus our attention on something else besides the burdens weighing down on our shoulders.
You could paint, draw, or even take up needlework and you might be surprised how much you will enjoy its effect on your mental health after a week filled with stress and anxiety.
6 6. Drink Some Tea
A common stress relief tactic is to drink a cup of tea due to its particular healing properties. Tea comes in a variety of flavors, but the best ones for decompressing after a long week are peppermint, chamomile, and lavender.
You might even have your own particular flavor that you enjoy drinking and it serves as a treat after all of the hard work you have done. Tea is not for everyone, but if you are a fan of its particular taste then this might just be the perfect method of decompression for you.
5 5. Pop Some Bubble Wrap
We all love online shopping, but sometimes that isn't enough to help us cope with the particularly horrible week you had at work. The fun part comes when you get the package in the mail and it turns out it was protected with bubble wrap.
It might be nice to finally receive what you ordered, but popping every single bubble on that piece of bubble wrap is the real stress-relieving prize. You will feel like a kid again as each bubble releases its air back into the world, and it might just become your new favorite way to decompress.
4 4. Throw On Your Favorite Pair of Sweats
Sometimes the best way to decompress is to escape from the world by choosing to stay at home. Many of us have a favorite outfit that we deem as our "comfy clothes" that allow us to feel free without any of the pressures standard society puts on our shoulders.
You can throw on this outfit, lean back in your recliner, and binge watch your favorite show for hours on end. It might not seem productive, but it will take your mind off of all of the pain from the week and allow you to focus on your own self-healing from the comfort of your own home.
3 3. Take a Walk
Nature is a great way to decompress after a long week as it provides us with an escape from the hustle and bustle of our busy lives. You can take a walk around the block, or go on that weekend hiking trip you had always wanted to take.
The important thing is that you are getting out there into the outside world and focusing on all the world has to offer. A walk may not be good enough for you, and a jog down your favorite woodsy path might do just the trick to relieve the stress you had been harboring since the start of your long week.
2 2. Read a Book
Many people scoff at the idea of reading a book as it requires a certain level of brainpower that they are not ready to give, but for some people, it can provide an escape. Books craft new worlds and circumstances, as well as characters you can fall in love with or learn to hate. It combines beautiful prose with eccentric ideas that turn into a story to distract you from your busy life.
It might take some time for you to find the right book, but the availability of free reading materials in today's day and age is what makes this stress relieving activity so enticing.
1 1. Play With Your Pet
We all love our pets, and sometimes the best medicine comes in a loveable, furry package. They are always happy to see us, and maybe all we needed was to snuggle up with them on the couch or play a game of fetch.
Their excitement will draw a smile out of you because you know that no matter how rough it might be out in the real world, you will always come home to your very own partner in crime.