5 Ways to Recharge When You’ve Been Working Hard

We’ve heard variants of the admonition “work hard and play hard” since we were children. Does anyone remember “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”? I remember seeing a tweet that said almost everything will work again if you unplug it and let it rest for a while, including ourselves. I totally agree! While you may not be able to “play hard” any time soon, you definitely can unplug for a while, and here are 5 ways to recharge.

1. Sleep. There’s no better way to give yourself a much-needed break than this one demand of nature. A good night’s rest can take off layers of accumulated stress, and also power you up to be more effective and efficient. After all, it’s a known fact that deprivation leads to bad decisions. President Bill Clinton once said, “Every important mistake I’ve made in my life, I made because I was too tired.” Arianna Huffington also said, “The most important hiring mistakes I’ve made were when I was tired.” If you need an urgent boost and can’t get to bed, consider a nap.
2. Minimize social media. You can do this by turning off notifications, going into stealth mode (where you only check others’ updates without putting up any posts of your own) or taking a social media break, also known as a social media detox. You can also minimize social media engagement by focusing on only one social media platform and staying off the others for the duration of your break. You can then channel the time that would have been spent on these platforms into activities that relax you. You’ll also have more time to nurture real-life connections through face to face hangouts, which can be incredibly refreshing if you have great relationships.
3. Get a massage. Whether it’s by human hands or a massage chair, there’s no denying the relief that a massage can bring. Besides soothing aches and pains, it calms your soul and eases stress. It doesn’t even have to be a full body massage; a head massage, foot massage, or even a simple back rub can be very relaxing.
4. Go swimming. I love walking, dancing, jumping rope, and stair climbing, but this is my absolute favorite exercise. Apart from the fact that water is so cool and so relaxing and so healing and so… water, swimming is a fun way to get a full body workout. It’s great for burning calories and boosting your energy, all without the sweat that accompanies other forms of exercise. Even if you don’t know how to swim yet, you can still enjoy playing in the water.
5. Plan a staycation. If you’re unable to travel, just let everyone know you’re going on staycation, and then arrange it. A staycation is a “stay-at-home vacation” which, with careful planning, can bring you all the joys of a vacation, without you having to travel. Unlike a vacation involving traveling, a staycation incurs no lodging costs and minimal travel expenses, if any, making it a less expensive alternative. The point is a little rest and relaxation.