How To Disconnect From The Work Day At Night

Your brain needs to relax at the end of the day

How do we separate our work life from our private life?

That’s a question that many are asking themselves today.

If you are one of the many office workers that are working from home due to the virus, then you may find it difficult to get away from work.

Remember the good ole days of alarm clocks, dressing for work, rushing out the door, coffee in hand and commuting?

Well, now we are all at home and not able to escape work that seems to be constantly there, staring us in the face.

If you have stared at a computer screen all day, then staring at a TV screen after work hours might not be the best way to create a relaxing environment for your tired brain.

You need to relax and be comfortable in a happy place.

Possibly a hot soaking tub and your favorite book. May be soft music and scented candles.

You’ll not only be clean, but you’ll be relaxed!

Now you may have to lock the bathroom door to keep family and pets out, but may be you can steal 20–30 minutes from your family for yourself. Or however much time you can.

Male or female, we can all benefit from a warm, soaking tub. Hopefully, you have a tub.

Reflect back over your day.

Reflection puts things in perspective. There are some days when everything goes off the rails. The wheels totally come off!

When that happens, it can be hard to get back on schedule.

Make a list each evening of what you want to do the next day. Do this early to get it off your mind, then you can relax the rest of the evening.

After work time should be yours to manage.

It used to be when you finished your work day at the office and you went home, you could not be reached until the next day.

But now, with cell phones, emails and texts, there’s no escaping.

You can never turn off. And curiosity gets the best of many people. They can’t stand missing a message or call.

If you are one of these people, you just need to learn to turn off.

After hours should be your private time, when you relax and are not available.

You must manage your after hours.

Spend time on a project for yourself.

Learn a language or a craft.

The Internet offers many opportunities.

You just have to search and discover.

Find something you have an interest in.

Read something that might open opportunities for you.

A home decor magazine might give you ideas for your home, articles on DIY, new recipes. Anything that is a diversion.

Try reading the Book of Proverbs. Read one chapter a night.

What ever you read, try putting your mind into a state of learning and relaxation.

You probably don’t want to read horror or crime before bedtime.

Just sayin’!

I like to read in bed. My body relaxes and I have a great lamp which produces good reading light and no eye strain.

Do not bring your work to bed. That defeats your relaxing time.

Remember sleep is a must.

Never underestimate the need for sleep. Don’t think that because you are young, you can get by with little sleep.

We all need good sleep patterns for overall health, mental and emotional.

Have a sleep schedule and stay with it.

Keep your body clock on the same sleep and wake schedule.

We all know that we need to disconnect from our workday environment.

Do not let work take away time from your family and friends. That is time you can never get back.

Remember the old childhood saying, “All work and no play, makes Jack a dull boy?”

Put space between your work life and private life.

Eventually, work life will probably get back to where it was before COVID.

And you’ll be around office workers and putting up with that commute.

But don’t let bad habits creep back in.

Practice relaxation and a good schedule.

You’ll be glad you did.