Actively switch off after work: 5 tips for unwinding and recharging your batteries

People with management responsibility are often under a lot of pressure. It is difficult to close the office door and stop thinking about work until the next day. However, this is precisely what is important in order to start the next working day with a clear head, energy and calm. We have put together the following tips and food for thought to make it easier for you to actively switch off after work.

1. Switch off your smartphone
   The digitalization of the world means that the boundaries between leisure and work are becoming blurred. If you're lying on the beach, you don't have to look far for a vacationer sitting in a beach chair with a tablet, making business calls and quickly checking their emails. But this is exactly what stands in the way of relaxation after work. If you learn to hand over management tasks for the time you are away, you can also use the time off more effectively.
   
2. Create rituals & set signals
   Occupational psychologists repeatedly emphasize how important it is to set signals. Small rituals also signal to the mind: it's time to call it a day. Such signals can be, for example, pushing the desk chair closer to the table or other rituals that signal the transition from work to leisure time.
   
3. Control your thoughts
   An important skill for actively switching off after work is controlling your own thoughts. After starting the engine on the drive home, it is inevitable that your mind will immediately start spinning again. What will I start with first thing tomorrow? What possible solutions are there for a problem in the project? Now it's up to you to stop these thoughts. Meditation and mindfulness training techniques play an important role here.
   
4. Make appointments with yourself
   If you find it particularly difficult to actively switch off after work, then make appointments with yourself. 18:00 Jogging, walking, gardening. Make a conscious effort to create these islands of time out and dedicated times when you do something just for yourself.
   
5. Powering out vs. relaxing
   Everyone has different methods of stopping the headache. While one person can relax in their garden while listening to the birdsong, another has to work up a sweat on a mountain bike or in the gym to calm down. Pay attention to what is good for you.
   
6. Training mindfulness
   In the midst of digitalized, fast-paced times, many people find it difficult to get off the rollercoaster. You can still do one thing, quickly check important emails after dinner or briefly develop a guideline for the upcoming appraisal interview. Mindfulness training helps you to put the brakes on and get back to work fresh and focused the next day. Short meditations can help you to calm down and keep your breathing and pulse under control.
   
7. Maintain hobbies
   Hobbies with fixed appointments force you to actively detach yourself from work. These could be sports or meeting up with friends every Tuesday for dinner at your favorite Italian restaurant.

These tips can be a valuable anchor for actively switching off after work. Above all, it is important that you find access to yourself. Do you feel that you need some time out right now? Then take it!

Do you need more tips or practical support? Then take a look at our range of coaching sessions and seminars, which are individually tailored to the needs of managers. You can also contact us directly.