10 ways to destress after a long work week

By the time Friday rolls around, your body might be home — but your nervous system is often still stuck in meetings, deadlines, and mental to-do lists. De-stressing after a long work week isn’t about cramming in more “self-care,” it’s about helping your system shift out of survival mode and back into ease.

Here are ten ways to do exactly that.

1. Create a hard stop to your work week - Close your laptop with intention, change your clothes, or step outside. Small rituals tell your brain: work is over now.

2. Move the stress out of your body - Gentle movement — stretching, walking, dancing in your kitchen — helps release tension that thinking alone can’t fix.

3. Put your phone down (just a little) - Even a short break from notifications gives your mind room to breathe and reset.

4. Get outside and change your scenery - Nature, fresh air, or even a different room can interrupt stress loops and calm the nervous system.

5. Do something with no outcome attached - Paint badly, cook slowly, read for pleasure. If it serves no purpose other than enjoyment, you’re doing it right.

6. Slow everything down - Eat more mindfully, move a little slower, speak more softly. Your body responds to pace more than words.

7. Breathe like you mean it - Longer exhales signal safety to your nervous system and help stress melt away.

8. Connect without problem-solving - Spend time with people who don’t need anything from you — no fixing, no explaining, just being.

9. Release the pressure to optimise your weekend - Rest isn’t something to “do well.” You’re allowed to be unproductive and still be okay.

10. Protect your sleep like it matters (because it does) - Earlier nights, calming routines, and fewer late-night scrolls help your body truly recover.

    
    

De-stressing doesn’t have to be dramatic or time-consuming. Often, it’s the small shifts — slowing down, letting go, choosing ease — that make the biggest difference.

#stress #work