After a long stressful day, you may simply want to head straight to bed. The trouble is, if you don’t relax and unwind, you take the stress of the day to bed with you, and it can cause insomnia and stress. That’s why unwinding is so important, and here are some ways to do it that are healthy and natural.
Write down your worries
If something stressful has happened at work, and you feel overwhelmed by everything that’s coming up tomorrow, write down your thoughts and feelings so you can let them go. You may also want to make a to do list, so you don’t need to try and remember everything and keep mulling it over in your head.
Have a long bath
A long bath will help your body relax and can help you unwind before you go to bed. Add a few drops of essential oils such as lavender or ylang ylang which can help with stress and anxiety. With soft lighting and some gentle music, you’ll soon feel a lot more relaxed.
Do some breathing exercises
Simply focusing on your breathing can help you unwind. Do this by:
- Sitting or lying comfortably
- Putting a hand on your stomach
- Taking a deep breath in, then slowly push it out as your belly rises
- Follow these steps up to ten times until you feel calmer
There are a number of mindfulness apps that offer breathing exercises too, which can help you relax after a long day.
Drink some herbal teas
Herbal teas such as chamomile can be great for when you feel stressed and need to unwind before bedtime. You can buy a wide range of herbal teas at https://vitahealth.co.nz, and there are many different varieties to try that have different purposes. In addition to chamomile, try:
- Green tea
- Passionflower
- Peppermint
- Lemon balm
The ritual of making and drinking tea can be very relaxing in itself, so it can be a good way to get you in a more relaxed frame of mind.
Talk to a loved one
When you are going through a tough time, speaking to someone you trust can put you in the right frame of mind. Whether you speak to them face to face, or call them for a chat, you’ll no doubt feel better about things after a good chat. Socialising is good too. Even if you don’t feel like going out because you are stressed, it can be really good for you.
Turn off your work phone
The problem with technology is that you are connected to work 24/7. As soon as you get home, turn off your work phone so you aren’t disturbed by e-mails that remind you of your stressful day. Otherwise, you’ll never be able to get out of work mode completely and will be mentally putting in overtime.
It’s not always easy to leave work behind when you get home. A few techniques can help you relax and unwind, so the stress of the day doesn’t follow you around.