THRIVE is all about a healthy work/life balance. So here are 20 easy ways to refresh your mind and body and separate yourself from your workday.
By Kaytlin Cook
Picture this: you’re walking out to your car at the end of a long, stressful day. You make it through all the traffic, the bad drivers, the tempting fast-food options, and fling your bag to the side and plop onto the couch. Your head is still spinning from the busyness of the day and you want to do something to unwind and release tension, but your brain is moving too quickly to decide what to do. Well, don’t fret and look no further, because we have compiled a list of 20 ways to unwind your body and mind at the end of the day. Try one, try some, or try them all!
1. Take a walk outside. Don’t put too much pressure on it — whether you walk for 15 minutes or an hour is not the point, because walking has a number of benefits for your physical and mental health.
2. Talk to a loved one on the phone. Call your grandma, your great grandma, your twice-removed cousin Judy. Call someone just to call them.
3. Find a hobby. Could be anything as long as you enjoy it. Join an intramural league, take a pottery class, or try figure skating. The world truly is your oyster. According to the executive editor of the Harvard Health Letter, Heidi Godman, “Compared with people who didn’t have hobbies, those who did reported better health, more happiness, fewer symptoms of depression, and higher life satisfaction.” Sounds like a pretty sweet deal.
4. Find a local trivia night with friends. Name your team something funny. Need ideas? We got you covered there, too.
5. Have a movie marathon. Pop some popcorn and get your favorite movie-theater candy. Watch something to make you smile, something to make you laugh, something to make you cry, something to make you think. (In that order, I would suggest 27 Dresses, Superbad, Good Will Hunting, and Interstellar.)
6. Dance, dance, dance. Don’t have your old trusty Wii? Don’t sweat it (metaphorically), but physically get a sweat going by following along with a Just Dance YouTube video. You will look ridiculous, and it will be awesome. May I suggest this personal favorite?
7. Read a book. Try something totally out of your comfort zone or stay right in it, it’s totally up to you. Research shows that readers of fiction have increased creativity, empathy and emotional intelligence. Losing yourself in fictional characters’ experiences can make us more open-minded and allow us to spend time in someone else’s shoes. Reading is also a serious stress-buster, says Sarah Taylor, assistant director of the Johnson County Public Library in Indiana. “It’s a great way to unwind and relax. Honestly, it’s a form of self-care that we often overlook,” she says. I don’t know about you, but if there is one person I am going to trust to tell me the benefits of reading, it’s a librarian.
8. Try out a new restaurant. Bring a friend, loved one, pet, or just go on a little solo date (pro tip: sit at the bar if you can — you might make some new friends).
9. Hit the road. Turn on your favorite playlist and take a drive down your favorite scenic route. If the weather is nice, roll down the windows and scream along. No one is listening, and if they are, consider their ears #blessed.
10. Assign some chores. If you have kids, make them clean your house while you sit back and watch while drinking your favorite beverage. (Kidding! Mostly.)
11. Take a yoga class. Or try some tried and true Yoga With Adriene on YouTube.
12. Stare at a wall. No seriously, try and do nothing but stare at a wall (or whatever scenery of your choice as long as it’s not a screen) and do nothing else. Believe it or not, this might be the hardest thing you could attempt on this list.
13. Sunbathe. If the sun is shining, get out and soak up some rays (and don’t forget the sunscreen). Sun exposure helps the body produce vitamin D, and according to Healthline, approximately 1 billion people worldwide are vitamin D deficient. You’re not one to just follow the crowd, are you?
14. Try some pet therapy. If you have a pet, give them all the snuggles and kisses and hugs and snacks and treats. I do not have to tell you they deserve it, and there is literally no better mood booster than puppy kisses — sorry, it’s just science. Don’t have a pet? Maybe it’s time.
15. Experiment with breathwork. Try the box breathing method. Does not get much easier than just breathing.
16. Organize a flash mob.
17. Find a new recipe to try out. Something that involves a lot of chopping is always cathartic.
18. Start journaling. Write about your day, what you hated, what you loved, etc. If you have an iPhone try out the new journaling app, or do it the old-fashioned way with pen and paper.
19. Read your favorite blog. Oh, wait …
20. Scream into the void. When it doubt, scream it out.
