Nothing feels worse than a stressful, overwhelming day that leaves you mentally drained and exhausted. Unfortunately, everyday life can be hard and it is easy to fall into this cycle of waking up and starting on a long list of to-do’s that feels never ending.
This feeling of fatigue and exhaustion can lead to mental, emotional, and physical stress on your body.
In times like these, engaging in activities that help you mentally recharge and recover is so important for your health.
Keep reading to learn the best tips on how to mentally recharge after a stressful day so you can wake up feeling recovered each day.
“Sometimes the best solution is to rest, relax and recharge. It’s hard to be your best on empty.” ― Sam Glenn
What’s Draining Your Battery?
The first step in learning how to mentally recharge is to understanding what is actually draining your battery.
What uses up your energy and recharges it each day is very personnel and differs person to person. Start paying attention to those specific activities that are draining your energy and find activities that counteract them.
For example, if you are spending too much time looking at a screen, getting outside and away from those devices can help you mentally recharge. If work is feeling really over-whelming, what’s something that can help you wind down at the end of the day?
It is important to note that not everybody has the same recharge button. Learning how to mentally recharge should be personalized to you and your preferences. Focus on what feels right to you!
The Best Ways to Mentally Recharge
Write in a journal
Journaling is an incredible tool to help with stress management and to collect your thoughts by getting them out of your head and onto a piece of paper.
Journaling is done for a variety of reasons, some which include:
- Tracking and setting goals
- Relieving stress
- Improving self-confidence
- Organizing your thoughts
- Being your creative outlook
- Overcoming fear
- Finding inspiration
- Improving/starting habits
There are also a bunch of journaling techniques out there to you help get started.
Engage in enjoyable and relaxing activities
Sometime during the day, it is important to take time to engage in activities you find enjoyable and relaxing.
Such activities may include:
- Yoga
- Listening to music
- Watching tv/movie
- Cooking a meal
- Taking a shower or bath
- Reading
- Stretching
- Shopping
- Hanging with friends
The list is unlimited! Whatever you enjoy and makes your brain relax is perfect for you.
Find support from a friend or family member
It is important that we surround ourselves with friends and family for support during times of joy and distress. They can be one of the biggest support systems we have.
Many studies have found that social and emotional support from others can be critical for our health.
Additionally, different people bring out different aspects of our personalities and fulfill different roles in our lives. When you are seeking emotional support during these stressful times, pick someone you feel connected and safe with.
Remember that human beings cannot thrive alone and having supportive family and friends helps to enhance our well-being.
Exercise
Although exercise is a physical stressor, it can also relieve a lot of mental stress. There are countless studies that link exercise and reduced stress to one another as well as a better mood and other health benefits.
Researcher are beginning to understand exactly why exercise has profound effects on our mental health. It reduced the body’s’ stress hormones and stimulates the production of endorphins, which is the body’s natural pain killers and mood elevators. That alone should give substantial mental relief.
Almost any form of exercise can help decrease your stress. This is why is it one of the best ways to mentally recharge. It allows you to clear your mind and move your body.
Some common exercises include:
- Walking
- Jogging
- Swimming
- Biking
- HITT
- Weight lifting
- Pilates
- Circuit training
Is it no secret that exercise is good for your physical health, but it just as good for mental relief. Finding even 10 minutes to move your body can have a bunch of positive effects.
Get enough sleep
The CDC recommends at least 7 hours of sleep for adults 18-60 years of age.
Getting good quality sleep for a sufficient amount of time contributes to your health and well-being. Sleep is when the body recovers the most so it is extremely important.
Common signs of bad sleep quality is feeling tired after a sufficient amount of sleep, waking up multiple times throughout the night, and experiencing symptoms of sleeping disorders such as gasping for air and snoring.
You can improve your sleep by practicing good sleep habits such as:
- Going to bed at a consistent time
- Making your bedroom quiet and relaxing
- Creating a nighttime routine
- Not eating a big meal right before bed
- Limiting bright light exposure
- Turning off electronics at least 30 minutes before bedtime
Avoid Multitasking
Multitasking is a very easy way to get overwhelmed and stressed. It also makes you more prone to mistakes. Studies show that multitasking, defined as doing two tasks simultaneously, is not possible unless the behaviors become completely automatic and you don’t have to think.
When you try to multitask, your brain has to work double time switching back and forth between two things. This slows down the completion of both tasks and overwhelms the brain.
Avoid multitasking whenever possible. Instead, make a list of all the things you have to do and check them off one by one. This will also result in more productivity and less stress.
Cry it out
This one sounds a little gruesome but hear me out…
Researchers have found that crying releasing endorphins which helps to ease both physical and mental pain. Additionally, emotional tears help to flush stress hormones and other toxins out of our bodies.
I will fully admit that when things get too overwhelming and the exhaustion and stress take over, crying it out help me!
So when in doubt, cry it out.
And there you have it!
It can be hard to turn your brain off at the end of the day but practicing these tips on how to mentally recharge can not only help you when you need it, but also as a form of maintenance. Self-care and recovery is best practiced before it is truly needed in order to maintain a positive and healthy emotional state.
Leave a Reply