Self-care ideas and how to unwind after a stressful day

 Written by: Sana ul Haq

In an urban lifestyle, there’s a lot of stress caused by the daily influx of work and so it is necessary to take care of yourself and unwind. Here are a few tips and tricks on how you can do just that:

1. Take a break every 30 minutes

White-collar work means stressful work, or so it feels. Knowledge workers don’t have to pick a shovel and dig a well, they must dig down their thought process and solve problems. This causes the brain to get tired. Keeping on sitting for long hours causes obesity and other health related problems and that's why standing desks and other ergonomic sitting settings are gaining popularity in modern workplaces.

Health experts recommend that a knowledge worker who works in eight hour shifts in a closed office environment should take a 5-minute break every 30 minutes. It’s also called the pomodoro technique. This helps improve health and reduces stress. It also sort of gives you a little reset and gets you a new thinking point about the work you are doing.

2. Exercise daily

Exercise should be a necessary part of your daily routine. Either you do it in the morning or in the evening, it has its benefits. Some people like to jog in the evening or take a stroll in the garden after their evening tea. This particularly is beneficial when you've had a hard day and want to offload your thoughts and stress.

3. Take it easy, it will all be fine

Usually, daily work-related problems take too much of your thoughts. This doesn’t have to be so. Remember the basic rule: you work and earn for a better lifestyle; you do not live a life to work. So, life and family should always come first. If a work-related problem is taking too much of you and causing your life to get affected, it’s not worth it. You can’t obviously resign from the job just because of one problem but shouldn’t also resign from life because of work. So what’s the way out? Simply give yourself time, take it easy and tell yourself ‘this shall too pass’. Give it some time, and you will find a way out.

4. Self-care and try to adopt healthy habits

If you have a lazy Sunday here and there, it’s fine. But if this becomes a pattern, then it’s a problem. You need to adopt healthy habits like going to bed early, avoiding fast foods and avoiding eating out as much as possible. Eat fruits and vegetables more often. Avoid smoking and other such things.

5. Make a routine to write down a summary of your day

Writing a daily journal is a wonderful healthy habit. It makes you feel like you are sharing your thoughts to a trustworthy friend without having to actually do it. Talk to your diary, talk frankly, talk every night, and keep talking until you feel light.

6. Spend time with your loved ones

The same rule again, you work to live a life, not live a life to work. So, yourself, your spouse, your family, your parents, your kids – your life in a nutshell, should come first. Writing a journal is great but you know what’s even better? Spending time with family and friends.

7. Share your problem with your trustworthy friend or partner

Most problems start with not sharing. You are struck in a problem, talk to the colleagues. If it still doesn't get solved, talk to your boss. Still not solved, share it with your spouse or friends. That’s where problems find their solutions, that’s where you find the light the end of the tunnel. Sharing is where the roses blossom, expressing is where the birds cheer and compassion is where the best of the best live. Live that life - a shared, expressive and loving life.

I too sometimes have a hectic day. Well, frankly most days are like that, but I try to not let this take a toll on me. And I follow the above mentioned tips to keep myself light and happy. I practice what I preach and so I am sure following these tips would also make you a happy, stress-free, charming, charismatic and healthy person.