How to Unwind After Work

June 09, 2025

After a hard day at work, you must take some much-needed “you” time and look after your mental health. Today, we’re talking about all our favourite tips and tricks to relax after work.

Relieve stress and improve your mental wellbeing now! Read on to find out more about our favourite ways to relax and soothe anxiety, from pamper hampers and warm baths to deep breathing exercises...

Relax After Work and Make the Most of Your Personal Life With These Tips

Manage work stress with these tips and tricks! The evenings are your precious time to unwind and take care of yourself. Stress management begins in your leisure time at home.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed at work, set some time aside in the evening for these relaxing self care activities. Unfortunately, you won’t have time for it during the busy work day. This is how to look after your mind and body… 

Light a Scented Candle 

Fill your home with relaxing, beautiful fragrances. Lighting a scented candle helps you relax after a hard day. This is a really easy way to bring good vibes and good smells into your home. Fragrances like lavender, rosemary, and lemon can reduce stress and promote relaxation. Light a beautiful candle alongside your hot bath or on your bedside table. You are guaranteed to feel uber zen in no time! 

Get Some Fresh Air

Getting some fresh air every day is scientifically proven to reduce levels of stress and anxiety. Fresh air makes us feel grounded and relaxed. After a long day, cramped behind an office desk, sometimes all you need is a short walk outside. Fresh air is so good for us because it increases oxygen levels in our brains, which subsequently boosts serotonin. 

Serotonin is the chemical compound that makes us happy! Fresh air is one of the easiest ways to de-stress and become happier. Next time you’ve had a long, hard day at work, pop outside for 10 minutes instead of crashing on the sofa with a glass of wine. You won’t regret it! 

Take a Warm Bath

A warm, hot bath is a true luxury. Fill your bath with hot water, Epsom salts, bubble bath, and aromatherapy oils. Light a candle and make yourself a herbal tea. This is the perfect way to unwind after a hectic day at work. A warm bath relaxes your muscles, relieves stress in the body, reduces symptoms of anxiety, and helps you sleep better. 

Research shows that a bath can activate your parasympathetic nervous system. The parasympathetic nervous system is a network of nerves throughout the body that can regulate our response to stress and create a sense of relaxation. Our bathtime pamper gift box makes the perfect bathtime treat.

A warm, hot bath will calm your nerves and relieve pain after a long day. Simply run a warm bath before bed and you’ll have the best sleep you’ve had in a while! 

Go for a Bike Ride

Fresh air and exercise make for a great combination. A bike ride after work is the perfect way to unwind after a busy day. Exercise is a great self-care method and is great for our physical health, too. It keeps us healthy and increases our serotonin levels. Biking is a low-maintenance, easy activity to end your day with and keep work-related stress levels down.

This is a fantastic alternative to the gym or indoor sports. Simply hop on your bike and go wherever your pedals take you. You can even bike on your commute home or on the way to work! Biking is a calm and relaxing hobby you are going to love! 

Spend Quality Time With Loved Ones

What better way to enjoy the present moment than quality time with loved ones? Sometimes all we need to relieve stress is a good laugh with the people we love. Self-care doesn’t have to be intensive exercise or a massage, it can be as easy as meeting up with a close friend.

After a tough day, it’s so nice to see friends, unpack our feelings, and enjoy a nice meal together. Friends are always there to listen and offer words of wisdom. Next time you’ve had a difficult week, don’t be afraid to lean on the people close to you.  Your mental well-being is

Exercise 

Exercise, exercise, exercise. Exercise is one of the most important healthy habits you can incorporate into your life. The average person should exercise for at least 150 minutes per week, that’s only 2 ½ hours per week!

As we’ve already talked about, exercise increases serotonin levels in our brains and makes us happier. So, the more exercise the better. We recommend aiming for 30 minutes of physical movement a day. 

There are so many different ways you can exercise. You can ride a bike, go for a long run, play tennis, stretch, go for a walk, go to the gym, it’s really up to you. You should do whatever exercise makes you feel good and happy.

Get some friends together and make exercising after work a social occasion. Exercise is a fantastic way to moderate your stress response and unwind after a tough day.  

Leave Work Early

It’s easier said than done, but leaving work early can do wonders for your mental wellbeing. Leaving work even a few minutes early lets you enjoy more of your home life. Get out of the office and remove yourself from work stress.

You’ll have more time for your friends and family, your hobbies, and your self care routine. We recommend leaving work early once a week. This will be fantastic for your work life balance!  

Cook a Wholesome Dinner 

Cooking homemade dinners can often fall by the wayside after a long day at work. However, cooking can actually be so therapeutic and really help manage stress levels. Get out of work mode and into the kitchen!

Try to make delicious, wholesome dinners a couple of nights a week. Cooking is a relaxing activity that is great for your mind, body, and soul. You'll be surprised how effective it is to relax after work. You can just focus on your meal and forget all the work nonsense. 

Make a To-Do List 

Making a to-do list is one of our best tips to relax after work. Instead of going through all the things you need to do in the morning, get them out of your head and onto a piece of paper. After you’ve written your to-do list, your stresses are organised on your to-do list. 

You can then spend the rest of the evening stress-free and with a clear head. Your stress levels will dramatically improve. It’s very simple but very effective. 

Talk to Someone About Your Feelings 

Talking to someone can improve your mood and reduce stress. Whether you're talking to a friend or a professional, a deep and meaningful conversation goes a long way. You’ll be able to get to the root of your stress and unpack where it comes from.

Spend an hour or two each week talking to someone. You’ll leave feeling more in control of your stress and your emotions. 

Have a Hot Shower 

If  you don’t have a bath, have a hot shower instead. A long, hot shower can be just as effective as a bath. Light a candle and use some aromatherapy body products. A hot water will relieve tension in your body and relax your mind. After a shower, your mood is uplifted and you’ll feel ready to unwind after work and have a cosy night in.

Spend 10 Minutes Doing Breathing Exercises 

Deep breaths work wonders for our mood and tension. It's one of the best ways to relax after work and de-stress. Take a moment each night to focus on your breathing. Meditation for a few minutes can drastically improve your stress levels and reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.

All you need to do is lie in a comfortable position, close your eyes, and take some deep breaths. Make sure you ignore any intrusive, stressful thoughts and just focus on your breath. 

Write or Journal 

Writing a journal is a fantastic, healthy habit to incorporate into your life. Simply write down anything you want to, it’s as easy as that. You can write how you are feeling, what you did today, any goals you have, what is causing you stress, it’s completely up to you.

There are no rules or expectations with journaling! Take a moment to write down everything that’s clogging up your head or causing you stress. Journaling is a relaxing, mindful pass time you’ll come to value.  

Set Boundaries With Work 

Set boundaries with work to ease your stress! It’s all well and good responding to stress, but, you also need to get to the root cause of it. Set boundaries with work and start prioritising your personal life.

You want to have time to pick up fun hobbies like making jewellery, cooking, or going for a walk. Boundaries help you live an easier, stress-free life. A boundary can be as little as refusing to take on another project, leaving work 5 minutes early, or ignoring a phone call.  

Go to Bed Early

Rest and relaxation is everything! Go to bed early and get as much sleep as possible. A stressed out person is often an overtired person. Spend a little extra time in bed and you’ll feel brand new! Listen to your body and give it a better nights sleep!

We hope you’ve enjoyed our favourite ways to unwind after work. What is most important is that you prioritise yourself and your self-care. Work stress can be so overwhelming. Take a little bit of time each day to look after yourself and unwind. You’ll be all the better for it, trust us! 

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