Building Your After-Work Routine
When it comes to work, Steph and I are more than familiar with the feeling of being overwhelmed with tasks and meetings, so we wanted to talk about something that has been an absolute game-changer in getting our time to work for us, the after-work routine. Though it is easy in the moment to want to go past your clock-out time and finish that one last task before you close your computer for the day, it has taken a lot of intention to recognize that making space for yourself to wind down and step away from a busy day, before launching into your evening plans, can be a profound act of kindness. Not only are you showing up for yourself but also your loved ones, taking a moment to recharge so you can have a little more intention to be mindful and present during your nights. Here are some of my favourite ways to wind down and click the mental ‘x’ on all the work-day chatter.
Close the computer
Though it seems like a simple and obvious step, I don’t just mean closing the laptop, I mean actually taking the time to sign out of your apps and close your browsers and truly shut down for the day. I like to keep a hold in my calendar called “Wrap Up” (paired nicely with the gift emoji) to remind me to turn in for the day. It’s also a great prompt to log out of any apps you have on your phone, including email. There’s nothing worse than hearing a Slack notification at 7 PM while you’re having dinner, so put the notifications on snooze, set yourself to away, and know that you can deal with any problems when you log back in tomorrow morning.
Find some movement
Whether it’s a walk, a run or a trip to the gym, taking a second to stretch your muscles and get some activity into your life, is a welcome change after sitting at your desk all day. If you work in an office, even your 10-minute walk to the street car is a welcome option. Making a little space to warm your muscles is great for your brain, your lungs, your heart and even your posture so just take a few minutes to not be in a hunched-over sitting position and your body will thank you.
Reading on the couch
Unlike Steph, I am not a huge reader but I will say I’m trying! I find there’s something refreshing about reading an actual book for a few minutes, reading something that you are actively choosing to engage with instead of things you have to read like messages or emails. It gives me a sense of ownership with the information I ingest which is a nice change, not to mention it also means a break from screens which we can all use more of. It doesn’t have to be a 10000-page book that takes four years to read either, it can be something easy and more relaxed. We just released our favourite reads for the summer, check it out for some inspiration!
Make a snack
If you finish at 5 as I do you may find yourself in this odd food witching-hour where you won’t likely eat dinner until 7 PM but want food immediately. This is the perfect opportunity to refuel. You just spent up to eight hours focusing and trying to string thoughts together so there’s a real chance you’ll need something to get you through to dinner. I love doing what I like to call “kiddo food” or what I used to eat when I got home from school, so a stash of apples and peanut butter is a must in our house.
Light candle
To me, candles are a little bit of magic. They have this power to completely transform a room’s atmosphere in an instant. I like to use them throughout my workday and blow them out when it feels concluded. There’s such a finality when the smoke from the wick is drifting through the air. In an after-work routine, I’ll often light one with my book and my snack, blowing it out when I’m done before heading to my evening plans, closing a small moment that I saved to unwind, just for me.
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