5 Things To Do After Work Instead of More Screen Time

    It's been a long day, time to go home and kick back. Maybe put your feet up, eat a little, and relax in front of the tv or video games. However, let's explore something real quick. 

     You've just spent, we will say on average, 9 hours sitting or standing at your job all day long. Hardly moving your body, the muscles become stiff and rigid from lack of blood flow. Joints begin to ache, then your head, then your feet or knees. 

     It is very counterintuitive to add even more stagnant movement into the day. The body is designed to move, to build, to transport and to carry. If it's continually in the same positions day in and day out we end up building movement patterns that come with major risk of injury. 

     Here are    things you can do before sitting down in front of the tv to binge your favorite show! Get your blood flowing first and give your hormones some room to run. 


    1. Let it out & write! Work is an often stressful event for many of us. Allowing yourself time to decompress and let your thoughts from the day flow onto the page. This allows you to say whatever you want without consequence, however also allows you mind to let go of the things that maybe didn't go the way you expected. Being able to express yourself in some form will help to relieve some stress from the day. 

    2. Get moving! Exercise may feel like the last thing you want to do after being at work all day. However, exercise not only builds strength, functionality, and keeps joints protected; we also get more balanced hormones, which in turn can lead to better mood, sleep, and cognitive functioning. Get your blood flowing before sitting back down. 

     3. ​Read a book rather than turn on the tv. You have more than likely been staring at a screen all day at work, give you eyes a break from that blue light and your brain a break as well. The blue light causes some major implications with the frontal cortex. Give yourself a little time and let your mind calm down and eyes relax from that light. 

     4. Talk a hike/walk. You've probably been inside for your work day, let yourself out and enjoy the sunshine. Replenish your vitamin D and your mood. Recharge your soul and your body. This is also a great way to help relieve some stress and get a nice tan in the summer time. 

     5. Spend time on a hobby. Just because we are finished working doesn't mean we can't get home and sit down to indulge in our favorite hobby or activity that doesn't involve a screen. 

    These are just a few ideas to get you started on some better after work routines. De-stressing comes in many forms outside of the screen. It's a great idea to contribute to your health and wellness routines by incorporating some of these elements into your daily life. 

    Lowering stress lowers and brings hormones back to a level homeostasis basis. This wards off sickness, inflammation, excessive fat gain, mood swings, lack of sleep, lagging cognitive functioning and even digestive issues. 

    Next time you get home and kick off those shoes, I hope you pick up a pen and paper or book instead of reaching for the remote. Healthy begins with the smallest of steps and changes. They lead to great results over time.