Switching off from work

[AwfulAwfulll]

Hi everyone,

Reaching out for some advice.

I work in a quite high pressure/long hour job (think corporate lawyer/investment banker in the City type role, although not quite as long hours as an actual banker). I am out of the house about 13 hours a day on average and days are very unpredictable.
I am really struggling with turning off and actually managing to do stuff or even just relax in the evenings: my head always seems to remain stuck at work, unless I’m completely exhausted. In both cases, I end up not really enjoying the time I have for me, it just seems to fritter away…

Would anyone have any advice as to how to manage to switch off and make the most out of down time?

Thanks!

For me going for a run or gym class works. I have two personal training sessions a week which are fixed in my diary and never moved. Keeps me sane.

I sympathise OP - it's really hard when you can't switch off from work.

For me, I find doing a screen free activity is key to helping me switch off. Walks with a podcast, reading in the bath, cooking with the radio on, playing sports etc. Something that absorbs but isn't at all like work! Try a few different things and see what does it for you.

Snap. Watching with interest. Teacher here. Never feel able to switch off as could always be getting on with 'the next thing'. No place to draw a clear line.

Do a few final emails if necs, and then read/podcast/ music on train

Some sort of activity once home, exercise as pp said, or cooking to a podcast, or crafting/sewing.

I think most people can’t switch from work to wind down, you need an interim activity. You probably don’t have the energy to go out and do something every night, but it will help build a switch off habit. You can read or do something at home some nights. Socialising or a film once a week is good too.

And have a time that screens go off.

A day working from home would also help - you are probably overtired and wired.

Try and be very strict c weekends. If you must check mail then set times only.

Eating and sleeping properly

I always found a transition activity helped, so something you do routinely which distinguishes between the workday and home life. Perhaps a walk, gym, bath/shower and change in to comfies; whatever works for your lifestyle.

Also, I finished each work day by making a list of what needing doing the next day so I wasn't ruminating and thinking about the next day after work. If something came in to my mind after work, I'd email my work email address with a reminder for the next day so I wouldn't forget to do it and it wasn't playing on my mind.

It is a hard one though and sometimes things do just occupy your thoughts so as a PP said, get out and do something which absorbs you a bit to distract.

@AwfulAwfulll

Hi everyone,

Reaching out for some advice.

I work in a quite high pressure/long hour job (think corporate lawyer/investment banker in the City type role, although not quite as long hours as an actual banker). I am out of the house about 13 hours a day on average and days are very unpredictable.
I am really struggling with turning off and actually managing to do stuff or even just relax in the evenings: my head always seems to remain stuck at work, unless I’m completely exhausted. In both cases, I end up not really enjoying the time I have for me, it just seems to fritter away…

Would anyone have any advice as to how to manage to switch off and make the most out of down time?

Thanks!

To be honest I prefer to be still focused on work duties as and when needed.

That said, to relax, I build magic the gathering card decks, and have some games with a couple of people. Then it's also my educational research journal I write in, basically it's like my own custom journal with various topics that I like to study but instead of printing reams of paper I prefer to write out the information.