5 Clever Ways To Unwind After a Stressful Day

Let’s just get right into it: Doomscrolling is not the answer. You might think that checking out from reality and checking into your phone is the easiest way to pause your thoughts, but staring at a screen is probably doing more harm than good. Instead, get creative with different ways to decompress. 

Remember how you felt the last time you looked up from your phone after staring at it for more than 30 minutes? You might have been more sluggish, or you might have had blurred vision, depending on how close to the screen you were. 

We’re here to change all that. When you’ve had a long, hard day and just need some TLC and time to unwind, here are a few clever ways to actually relax — at least for a few hours.

Go to Town on Skin Care

If your day-to-day skin care routine is simple, take an extended break and bust out a multistep routine, incorporating beauty tools to boot. Being proactive about skin care can help you zone out and focus on something other than the stressors of the day. Add your favorite microcurrent device (such as NuFace) to your routine for even more relaxation. There’s something about methodically moving the tool over different areas of your face for a few minutes at a time that truly takes you into another world.

Do a YouTube Stretch Video

Stretching has been shown to increase serotonin levels, so turn on YouTube and find a low-impact workout you can do on a quick break. We love fitness instructor Move With Nicole for her yoga flows and stretch videos that are perfect for unwinding at the end of the long day. 

Whip Up Your Favorite Mocktail 

You’ve probably seen some of the viral drinks that are all over social media, such as the tart cherry juice mocktail, which is said to help increase melatonin and help usher you into sleep faster. But you can really use whichever beverage you want. The point here is the ritual — and, of course, avoiding alcohol. Bonus points if you use a chic glass.

Although alcohol is often touted as a way to unwind at night, drinking it before bedtime can actually result in more sleep disruptions by causing you to frequently wake up in the middle of the night. 

Journal on a Mission

Writing down things you’re stressed about can take them out of your head and onto the page. This can help you wind down before bed. First, make a list of three to five things that you’re worried about. Near each stressor, add one or two things you need to remember about the situation to feel less stressed (like a time stamp for the following day when you can tackle the issue). Then, for each stressor you listed, make sure to add one thing you’re grateful for. It’s like a gratitude journal and stress-relief in one. 

Lay Out Your Clothes for the Next Day

Starting the morning on a stressful foot can really send your whole day into a tailspin. Take a page out of your routine from high school, when you picked out your clothes before bed to make your 7:35 a.m. first class. Taking the stress out of choosing your outfit in the morning is a surefire way to shave minutes off of your morning routine, which will make you preemptively less stressed the night before. This doesn’t just work with your outfit, either. Set up your coffee to be ready in the morning and anything else you can take off your busy plate.