How To Let Yourself Relax & Unwind Properly

Last Updated on May 7, 2022

No matter how hard we try to unwind at the end of the day, it’s easy for something to prevent us from fully relaxing. Whether it’s our inner voice telling us to be productive or an urge to suddenly declutter the entire house, something always pops up and makes it that much harder to switch off.

The hardest part of switching off for me is quieting the mental chatter that goes on in my head. I tend to overthink and overwhelm myself at the exact times that I want to be relaxing, especially when I lay down to go to sleep.

If you have trouble letting yourself relax properly, here are a few tips to make it easier to relax at the end of the day! Remember that relaxation is so important for your well-being, so make try making it a priority to unwind properly every single day.

Ways To Unwind & Let Yourself Relax

Create an end-of-day ritual

Create a routine that encourages a clear boundary between the workday and your personal time. Maybe that’s going to yoga class, taking a bath, or cooking dinner – something that gets you into a relaxed state of mind. Use that activity as an indicator that you’re now transitioning into relaxation time.

At 7:30, I’ll stop working, lay out my yoga mat, and practice yoga for about 30 minutes. After that, I’ll take a bath. Then it’s time to get comfy in my PJs, have a snack, and watch Netflix until about 9:30. Finally, I’ll read until about 10:30 when I go to bed.

Get comfortable

A big element of relaxing for me is making sure that I’m comfortable. That means changing out of whatever I wore during the day and getting into something loose and soft. Changing into pajamas or lounge clothes helps you make the transition into relaxation mode at the end of the day.

Some of my favorite cozy items:

Braindump and clear your head

Even with a routine in place, it can be difficult to shut your mind off. I’ve definitely done half-hearted yoga because my head wouldn’t quiet down at the end of the day.

There’s nothing worse than trying to go to sleep and having all these thoughts whizzing around in your head. Writing and switching off from social media are two things that help me to switch off sooner.

At the end of the day, I’ll write down anything that is still floating around in my head. That way I can deal with it tomorrow instead of worrying about it immediately.

Related Post: How To Declutter Your Mind With The Brain Dump Method

Set boundaries with screens

I try to switch off from social media and emails at 7:30 when my evening routine starts. I also try to give myself a deadline to put my laptop/iPad away by 9:30 because I have a tendency to get distracted with Netflix or YouTube videos right before bed.

Of course, it’s not always easy to follow through, and there are times when I stay up far too late because I’m in the deep dark depths of YouTube. But I feel a million times better when I make an effort to switch off earlier.

How do you relax at the end of the day?