Top 10 Ways To End Your Day In A Stress-Free Healthy and Restful Way

How To Wind Down In A Healthy And Restful Way

This month we are sharing ideas and tips to help live your best life even if you have stress. Let's be frank as we begin today that most people are living with stressors in our modern life. There are however strategies to help relieve stress and today our topic is Top 10 Ways To End Your Day In A Stress-Free Healthy and Restful Way. 
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Have a Nighttime Self-Care Routine

We wrote about Self-care a few months ago https://bit.ly/2UUYtS7 and the idea of practicing self-care can really help you to relax each day. If you have a lot of stress at work or home, give yourself a few minutes every evening that is just for you. Listen to calming music, meditate, practice mindfulness, write in your journal, draw or paint, take a bath, or just do anything that relaxes you and helps you feel at peace.

How To Wind Down In A Healthy And Restful Way

With over-scheduled days and limited time, the day is filled with busy moments and delayed chores. By the time the evening rolls around, the proverbial energy bubble is running quickly out of air. 

While these are all important tasks, it is just as imperative to think about your own personal care. Working through your own thoughts and experiences about the day is important for your mental health. 

Let us look at the top ten ways to end your day in a stress-free healthy and restful way:

Write Down What You Can Control About Tomorrow 
A planner is a good way to keep track of where you are spending the most time. You know that during certain hours you are at work, those are things you can control. Getting a last-minute invite to dinner falls under unexpected changes in your schedule. 
Write down any major events happening within six months. Now go back and write down what you expect from the following week. Include your work hours and any repeated tasks. Doing this helps ease anxiety about the unknown about tomorrow.

Go Back Over Your Day With Gratitude
When a day has been especially difficult, the mood is to forget about it. Yet, over time, this wears on the mind and causes more anxiety about the situation. Rather than allowing yourself to repeat the scenario just before sleep practice finding gratitude in your day and sleep well.

Simply focus on the good things that happened and dream away. 

Read A Book 
One of the most calming activities is reading a novel. Not the kind you find on your phone, but the stories you find in your local library. Engaging in the story allows the mind to switch from emotionally running to logistically functioning. Use this time to relax and reset your sentimental side.

Choose genres that are interesting and educational. If you are looking for a bit more interaction, read to your partner or children. 

Keep A Journal 
As children, we are taught to write down our feelings. During adolescent years this often leads to keeping a diary. When we become adults and take on all new responsibilities, our feelings are kept inside instead of on paper. By keeping a journal nearby, the emotions of the day can be transcribed into your private book. 

At the end of the evening, spend a few minutes writing out your day. Express the feelings you experienced and how you handled different situations. Once a week, go back over your entries. See if any patterns are emerging and how you can grow personally from those moments. 

Shake Off The Blues With Laughter
“Laughter is the best medicine in the world.” - Milton Berle

If the day was filled with frustration and anxiety, treat your mood to a movie. Choose a program that has comedy and lightheartedness. 

By engaging in the show, the mind and body have time to rest and reset.

Maybe choosing a new movie is too much to take in one day. Instead, pick an older film, like Laurel and Hardy. Find one that has a good storyline and many laughable scenes. 

Listen To Some Music 
If you need a bit of a push to do your evening chores, turn on some music. Pick genres that you can sing along with or even dance a bit to. With each new song, complete a new task. This keeps your nightly routine moving and settles your mood by the time you go to bed.

Make your chores a challenge. For washing dishes, give yourself twenty minutes. For laundry, think ten minutes. Now pick out music that will last through that task. If you need more time, add in another song instead of thinking about it as a defeat. 

Clean Out The Junk Drawer 
Thinking about all the chores you want to accomplish, likely a deep clean is on your list. Yet, week after week, the task is bypassed for other chores. Instead, pick one space each day. Start with an area that is doable and approachable, like cleaning out the catch-all drawer. By completing this chore, your mind can rest easier knowing that it is off your list.

Make the space more user-friendly and organize the rest. Throw away any items you have not used in over a year, including old receipts. Leave yourself feeling accomplished and determined.

Lay Out Your Next Day’s Clothes
Think about how much time you invest in picking out clothes each day. As the mornings are already packed with necessary tasks, choosing an outfit becomes a hassle. Instead, lay out your clothes for the next day in the evening. Organize your necessities by the front door, like car keys and shoes. Just these few minutes will save you a ton of time tomorrow morning. 

Include your family in this chore. Have each person take turns double-checking the items that are needed. This not only gives your children a nighttime chore but holds them responsible for their belongings. 

Have A Healthy Snack Before Bed 
While dinner time can be fulfilling, it normally is consumed three to five hours before going to bed. Though you may not feel hungry, try a light snack to tide you over till breakfast. This gives your body the nutrients it needs to sleep well and function properly during the long hours of the night.

If you are craving salty foods, think cheese and crackers instead of fried chips. For a sweet alternative, put some fresh pears with cheese. Overall, choose items that fill the hunger gap and maintain your yearnings.

Focus On One Happy Moment
When the day is filled with disruptions and frustration, the idea of thinking positive is not on the radar by the time you come home. In lieu of centring in on the emotions you experienced, find a good reason to appreciate that interaction. 

Maybe the boss was pushing your buttons at work, leaving you feeling conquered and worn out. While it would be easier to voice your frustration, remind yourself why you like the job. Once you take the personal aspect out, the scenario becomes less challenging. 

By making these small changes in your evening schedule, your time will flow smoother and be more enjoyable and even productive. Give the time you need to complete the tasks at hand, and sleep on the rest. 

As English author, G. K. Chesterton once quoted, “When it comes to life, the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.”

We would appreciate hearing from you. Share any ideas, questions or comments below. 

Be sure to get in touch with us and let us know how we can help you.

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