Destressing after a long shift might seem simple. It’s easy to change into comfy clothes and throw on a TV show or scroll on TikTok until you fall asleep. While we love all of these things, they might not be helping you destress or recharge for your next shift. Here are a few of our favorite ways to actually relax, recharge, and restore your energy.
1. Find a hobby
As an adult, finding a hobby can be challenging, but everybody has something they want to either learn, pick up again, or something they already love doing and want to do more! Do you enjoy arts and crafts? Pick up a color-by-number kit, or learn how to crochet and make yourself a cute hat. Maybe try to make reading or listening to a book a daily practice and ignite your imagination again (it’s important, even as adults!).
If you can’t think of a hobby to start, look back at your New Year’s resolutions. Is there something that you wanted to accomplish this year that you could turn into a hobby? If you wanted to run a marathon this year, starting to run every day would be a great hobby. Or if you wanted to learn more about starting a garden this year, for example, make researching it your hobby. Hobbies can truly be whatever you want them to be, as long as they bring you joy!
2. Try meditation
Meditation can sound intimidating, but it can be whatever you want it to be! It’s all about staying mindful and present in the moment. Whether that’s practicing gratitude daily or reciting affirmations after your shift, find some way to add positive practices to your day that help you stay focused and present. You can even find guided meditations on YouTube if you want something that has a little bit more structure.
Deep breathing is also a great tool to destress — and that’s backed up by science! Deep breathing can help you relax and calm your mind to let it know that it’s not in danger, and it can chill out a bit. Intentional breathing can be a great tool to use at any point in the day, especially during your shift if you’re feeling extra stressed and need to lower your stress levels.
3. Find a post-shift routine or pre-shift routine to get you out of the work mindset or into the work mindset
Preparing to start and end your day with a routine is incredibly important for creating boundaries around work, which can help lower your stress levels, especially if you work in a high-stress environment. It doesn’t have to be complicated either. Maybe it’s creating a 10-minute playlist to hype yourself before you go clock in for your shift. Perhaps after you’re done with work, it’s reading a book as soon as you get home. Whatever works for you, creating space between your work and personal life can help you cut down on stress and feel rested for your next shift.
4. Fill your schedule with things you enjoy
If work is a major source of stress in your life, make sure you’re adding things you love into your personal life and not forcing yourself to do things you don’t enjoy because “you should.” For example, if you’re hoping to exercise more, find a source of movement you enjoy. If you don’t love running or jogging as your movement, don’t do it.
If you want to better yourself and enjoy more media, find a source that you enjoy. If you don’t love reading, you don’t have to do it! Listen to music, watch a movie, or anything else you’ll enjoy and stick to. Trying to force yourself to do things you don’t enjoy is going to wear at you. You’ll find yourself even more stressed after work because you don’t have anything to look forward to, except activities you don’t enjoy. And habits are infinitely more difficult to stick to if you don’t enjoy them.
5. Move your body
Moving your body can be a great way to destress (hello, endorphins). Whether you enjoy walking outside in nature or on a treadmill indoors, moving your body is a tried-and-true way to destress from a long day at work. Working out is a great time to multitask! Consider listening to a new podcast (here are a few of our favorites), or download an audiobook to listen to! You can even curate a playlist to help motivate you while working out. Who says your workout can’t turn into a dance party?
If you want something a little more high-intensity, try signing up for a workout class at your local gym! Not only will you get in a great workout, but you’ll also get to meet new people in your area. Who knows, you might even make some new friends! Whatever movement you choose to add to your routine, your body and mind will thank you.
6. Therapy
Taking care of your mental health is just as important as taking care of your physical health, so make sure you’re prioritizing it. If you’ve tried some of these smaller things and nothing is working, consider finding a therapist to talk to about your stress. Some problems are too big to deal with yourself, and there’s no shame in seeking out professional help. There are thousands of therapists ready to help you through whatever problems are weighing you down in life so that you can get back to enjoying your life. It’s never too late to ask for help!
Try Medely for More Work-Life Balance
If you’re looking to change your daily routine or have more control over your work-life balance, consider picking up per diem work or look into travel assignments!
- Per diem nursing is great if you don’t want to be tied down to a specific work schedule. As a per diem nurse, you can choose exactly when and how much you want to work. Basically, you just pick up a shift when you want to. And there’s no limit to how much or how little you can work. You get to decide!
- If you want a little more stability in your schedule and want to explore, travel assignments might be for you! Medely has travel assignments that range from 4-13+ weeks across the country. Is there a city you’ve always wanted to visit? Check out an assignment there!
If you’re interested in trying per diem or travel assignments, visit medely.com to create a free profile!