Workday Wrap-Up: Six Ways To Unplug and Relax

We’re all too familiar with the relentless demands of hustle culture and the trap of toxic productivity. I don’t know about you, but the pressure to constantly be 'on' has been very overwhelming for me. Juggling a career, family, and personal commitments often leaves me feeling like there are never enough hours in the day. I've been there—burning the midnight oil, pushing through exhaustion, believing that rest equated to laziness. But I am learning the the hard way that this nonstop grind is unsustainable. In this article, I’ll share my journey toward finding balance and the techniques that have helped me unwind at night.

Let's embrace the power of rest and reclaim our evenings for ourselves.

1. Turn Off Notifications

Constant pings and buzzes can keep your mind tethered to work, preventing you from fully relaxing, as someone who also works in social media and stuff, this is an important one for me. One of the most effective ways to signal the end of my workday is by turning off my notifications.

How to do it:

  • Set a specific time each day to silence your work notifications.

  • Use your phone’s Do Not Disturb mode to block alerts from email, Slack, and other work-related apps, I also do it for WhatsApp.

  • Consider creating a custom “workday end” routine on your phone that automatically silences notifications at a set time.

2. Feed at Least One of Your Five Senses

Engaging your senses is said to be a powerful way to shift your mind away from work and into relaxation mode. This can be anything from enjoying a delicious snack to listening to calming music.

How to do it:

  • Taste: Savor a piece of dark chocolate or sip a cup of herbal tea - I do cup of vanilla chai every night before bed

  • Smell: Light a scented candle or diffuse essential oils

  • Touch: Wrap yourself in a cozy blanket or take a warm bath, and put on your fave pair of silk or wool PJs

  • Sound: Listen to your favourite music, nature sounds (I usually put on waterfall or rain sounds), or a relaxing podcast.

3. Do a Body Scan

A body scan is a mindfulness practice that can help you become aware of physical sensations and release tension. It’s a great way to relax your body and mind after a busy day.

How to do it:

  • Find a quiet, comfortable place to sit or lie down. I usually lie on the carpet on the floor (on slightly warmer days, lol)

  • Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths.

  • Slowly bring your attention to different parts of your body, starting from your toes and moving up to your head.

  • Notice any areas of tension and consciously relax those muscles.

4. Communicate with Your Co-Workers That You Are Logging Off

Letting your co-workers know that you are logging off for the day sets a clear boundary and helps you mentally disconnect from work. For me this also removes the internal pressure and guilt to respond to things immediately

How to do it:

  • Send a quick message on your WhatsApp group to let everyone know you’re signing off.

  • Update your status on work communication tools to indicate you’re done for the day. Put on that offline status on Teams, lol.

  • If you’re working on a project, provide a brief update and outline any priorities for the next day.


5. Let Yourself Completely Tap Out

Give yourself permission to fully disengage from work. This means resisting the urge to check emails or think about work tasks once you’ve logged off.

How to do it:

  • Create a physical separation by closing your laptop and putting away any work-related materials. Close all those tabs, and switch the computer off, don’t just put it to sleep

  • Mentally tell yourself that work is done for the day and it’s time to relax.

  • Try reading a book, cooking, or spending time with loved ones. I usually do catch ups with my mom for all the tea

6. Create a Personal Post-Work Ritual

Establishing a post-work ritual can help signal to your brain that it’s time to unwind. This ritual can be simple and should include activities that you find enjoyable and relaxing. Remember, this shouldn’t feel like work

How to do it:

  • Choose a few activities that you love and that help you relax, such as taking a walk, practicing yoga, or journaling.

  • Perform these activities in the same order each day to create a routine (I am still struggling here with consistency, but we’ll get there)

  • Make this ritual a non-negotiable part of your day, prioritizing it just as you would a work task.

Like my boss always says, you need to take your time with things, and that includes your wellness as well. You can’t always be a superhero, and you sometimes have to just let things go and rest. You are no good to anyone, especially yourself if you are sleep deprived, running on reserve and just on zombie mode. Always pay attention to how much your mind and body can handle . Gentle reminder: you don’t have to do all of the above, this is the one thing that shouldn’t feel like work.

Ohk, I think I’ve shared a lot now, if you’ll excuse me, my mom is visiting me and she keeps calling me, so let me log off, go have a cup of vanilla chai and chill with her for a bit.  

Here’s to a more relaxed and rejuvenated you!

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