When the noise of the day finally fades, what remains is you. Building a routine into your evening can help you release the rush and return to the present.
Here are five ways to recenter, unwind and reset after work.
Stretch It Out
The body needs movement like the mind needs books. Stretching is one of the best ways to lose tension in the body. After a long day, with thoughts buzzing through your head from left to right, roll out a yoga mat and gently stretch it all away. As you do, take time to breathe deeply, inhaling and exhaling while you focus on the now, not yesterday, not tomorrow, simply you, right here.
Linked below is a stretch routine that’s truly going to relax your body.
Journaling as Release
Get all your thoughts onto paper. There is something deeply intentional and intimate about putting pen to paper, thoughts into words, turning your hopes and concerns into something physical. Journaling is a beautiful way to unburden and reflect on your day, week or month.
You can simply start: write about what went well, what didn’t, where you need to grow, and where you need to pour more of yourself in.
Here is a video by Moya Mawhinney to help you get started and inspired.
Being a Reader
This year, I made a list of books I want to read, almost like a checklist, and I truly plan to get through most of them. It’s a small list, just five books, but they’re five I really want to spend time with. Even if I read only 10 to 20 pages a day, it’s still something that will bring me joy.
Reading has become something many people are returning to, mainly because of the benefits it has on our concentration. Unlike scrolling on TikTok or Instagram, books don’t rely on overly stimulating imagery, everything unfolds in the mind.
A Warm Meal Warms the Heart
Always make time for a warm meal. Slow down, chew, and savour each bite. Eating well might be one of the greatest ways to express love to yourself. So when you sit down to eat, don’t rush through it, trying to get to the next thing, let this moment be yours.
It’s true, time can feel limited, it is limited, but gift yourself that extra 30 minutes to truly enjoy your meal, undistracted.
Skincare and a Warm Beverage
When things finally begin to slow down, move into your skincare routine and, if you can, take a warm shower. If there’s a comforting drink nearby, even better.
Perhaps the constant chasing of time, always running after it, is what truly wears us down. Caring for your skin becomes a way to reclaim some of that time, both physically and metaphorically. Restore the moisture your face and body may have lost during the day, and take a moment to really look at yourself in the mirror. This is you, right now, and you’re beautiful.
