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Not everyone is fortunate to have a job they love and are satisfied with, and even if they do, it’s not easy being an employee.
After 8 to 9 hours of being in the office, it’s understandable to feel drained and to want to be left alone for the remainder of the day.
It is tempting to simply head home, have dinner, watch a show or two, and go to bed.
While it’s ok to want to relax, it’s also important to create some time for other activities and fun, you deserve it.
Focus on activities that would re-inspire you and make you ready to resume work the next day.
Here are some things to incorporate into your daily after-work routine to help you tolerate your 9 to 5 better.
1. Socialise
Resist the temptation to head straight home after work. Instead, go out and have fun.
You could grab a drink with a friend, or go see a movie at the cinema or visit family.
The key thing is to enjoy your time off work.
2. Move
While in the office, you are most likely stuck on your chair with an occasional walk to here and there.
After work, find activities that require you to move around. You could take a walk around your neighbourhood with a friend, enrol for a dance class, or just crank up the music at home and dance, or visit the gym.
This activity will certainly lift your spirits and ease some tension in your body.
3. Unplug
This means that you should leave work at work. Resist the urge to check your emails when you leave the office or answer work-related calls.
You can unplug from “work mode” by turning off work-related notifications and putting your electronics somewhere out of sight.
This way, you would feel much more refreshed when you wake up in the morning, and ready for a productive day ahead.
4. Find a hobby
Hobbies are a great way to unwind after work. It’s easy to get overwhelmed with work and forget your other interests.
Doing something you love is a way to ensure that you enjoy your time off work, so you must make out some time after work to rediscover your hobbies.
Do what you love and everything will seem brighter!
5. Get a new job
If you find your job absolutely unbearable, then hanging out with friends or dancing isn’t going to make it any better.
It might be time to start searching for a new job. It then makes sense to use your time after work to work on your job search.
Once you have a career goal in mind, use the time to polish up your resume, apply for jobs, schedule and attend interviews, etc.
Being proactive in your job search helps make it possible to endure your current job until you get something else.
Your job doesn’t need to be all-consuming. It’s up to you to create the balance you need for your sanity .
You’ll be surprised at how much more productive you could be, with a balanced approach to work.