Bonjour lecteurs! Working from home has pretty much become the norm over the past few years. I have been a doing so as a freelancer myself since 2018 and it was not that easy at first. It’s still sometime, especially in the summer holidays like now and I have to look after Stanley while trying to run a business… Like many others, it can be stressful. When you work from home you need to make a conscious effort to switch off and find an activity that helps you relax. I put together this guide with 7 simple ways to switch off when working from home for a happier and more productive you.
Watching Television
Is there anything more enjoyable than switching off your laptop for the day and heading to the living room to watch your favorite show?
Watching television is one of the best ways to relax and wind down when you work from home, as it doesn’t require too much thought or effort on your part.
I am currently following the trend and watching Emily in Paris on Netflix and I am LOVING it! Dreaming to even make it to la capitale next summer with the boys! It’s so relaxing.
Puzzles & Games
Are you a fan of puzzles? It can be so relaxing and l’excuse parfaite to wind down. Personnellement, I love a good game of Mahjong but Grumpy Boyfriend loves Sudoku.
Les deux options are probablement among the most populaires ones as it gives you a sense of accomplishment at the end of each puzzle.
I also love doing crosswords and word searches les weekends. And si vous préfèrez something a bit more colourful, then go for a jigsaw. I sometimes do big ones with Stanley and I have felt surprisingly zen afterwards!
En plus, it is nice to have a project you can gradually work towards little by little whenever you clock off from your day at work.
Listening to Music
It’s been quite intense at the minute to juggle it all with work while looking after my son over the holidays.
Music is truly food for the soul and there will never be anything to replace it. So sometimes, j’écoute de la musique and I even dance to let off some steam! I always feel energised and happy afterwards.
Plus, music is also très thérapeutique and help you relax. I could not recommend more you do a play list of happy songs that will boost your energy as soon as you put it on. It’s the best feeling, especially after a long day at work!
Reading A Book
How many books do you manage to read a year? I used to be an avid reader but I struggled to keep my eyes open in the early day of motherhood. Even if my book was captivating, I was often too tired and would fall asleep with it still open!
But there is truly something so enjoyable, calming and relaxing about reading one of your best books after a busy day of working from home.
Many might say that they don’t have time to read but, le secret is just to get started. Challenge yourself to read for 5 min or just one chapter each day and you might be surprised, ending up reading more.
What genre do you like most? I love a good non fiction but I would also dive into a good thriller or a romantic story if I want to relax over the holidays.
Have a Warm Bubble Bath
Take last week par exemple, I just had a long warm bath and it simply felt incredible! I had not done for so long and yet, it can help you if you are stressed.
I love mine pipping hot with a sweet fragrance and bath salts. It is so relaxing and my body just feels so much lighter. If you had a very tense day at work, there is nothing better to unwind.
Go For A Walk
More active? Then go for a walk. I usually go for a stroll in the morning so that I start the day right and feel happy and inspired when I join my desk.
But you can also go for an evening walk. It’s so pretty at this time of the year, looking at the sunset.
En plus, we all know that walking can be great for your overall physical health. We are not meant for sitting all day! Start small by walking 10 min each day and you will see: it will clear your head after a stressful day. Furthermore, it’s also good to have a change of scenery when you work form home, or if you want to escape the children for a bit…
Cooking A Meal
I am not much of a chef usually speaking. I tend to cook the same meals on repeat as it’s faster and it sometimes feels like another thing to add on my to do list.
However, if I set myself up to cook a new recipe and spend longer in la cuisine, I always have such a feeling of achievement. Get the children involved too! It’s such a great way to bond with kids and l’excuse parfaite to get them off screen too!
Working from home can be so practical. No need to spend hours in traffic jam or public transports to go to work. It’s cheaper and faster. But it can also have its challenge. For me it’s the monotony of it at times. So I try to separate my work to my home life as much as I can.
Hopefully, these ideas will provide you with some inspiration when it comes to switching off your work brain and enjoying time at home with your loved ones. It can be as easy as going for a walk and yet, it will have such an impact on all the family!
Disclosure: Collaborative post.
